Working Together to Help More People
In a recent interview, our CEO Morgan O'Brien spoke with the United Way about the partnership between Peoples, the United Way, and PA 211 Southwest.
Q: How is Peoples’ partnership with United Way and PA 2-1-1 Southwest a particularly good fit for the “Making Your Life Better” mission?
Morgan: United Way and PA 2-1-1 Southwest are both important safety nets for people in need in the region. They connect folks in need to efficient, compassionate services and holistic solutions to their important life challenges. Nationwide, nearly three quarters of all calls to 2-1-1 are for essential human services—food, shelter, and utility services. A strong partnership between Peoples, United Way and 2-1-1 will allow more people to connect with Peoples programs, so they can continue to have safe, affordable energy, regardless of their ability to pay. Fostering a working partnership will allow more people to enter those programs more quickly and efficiently than traditional outreach approaches. By capitalizing on our joint resources, we can provide more support for more people who qualify, and avoid catastrophic events that stem from using unsafe alternative heating sources.
Q: As vital assets to local communities, how can Peoples, United Way, and PA 2-1-1 Southwest use their synergy to better help people? How do you envision these three groups expanding their partnership in the future?
Morgan: Moving forward, we must strive to leverage our synergies as best we can. Lessons learned from 2-1-1 show that folks who have trouble paying their utility bills most likely have challenges feeding their families and affording shelter. Partnering with United Way and 2-1-1 ensures that if any family in this region reaches out for any one of those essential human services, we can then connect them with the other services in the broader network our partnership creates. Those with utility needs also get connected with food and shelter programs and other services. No matter which challenge prompts a person to seek help, that person can be connected with all other useful services and resources within our reach. As we develop a more efficient partnership, this collaboration makes us a better region. And as a result, more struggling families are helped in a holistic manner with all their essential service needs. How powerful is that!