WHIRE - 2021 Review

February 10, 2022

The first call for help hotline was very HOT in 2021.

We re- launched WHIRE (Wayne Holmes Information and Referral Exchange) in April, 2019.  To date, we have answered 13, 016 phone calls from people in Holmes and Wayne Counties.  United Way of Wayne and Holmes has a long history of serving as the first call for help in our community.  The original WIRE line operated in the early 1970's as a switchboard.  Years later, it turned into Info-Link and then moved the the national platform of 2-1-1.  In 2019, we unsubscribed from 2-1-1 because our calls were being routed to Cleveland.  Frankly, the operators were not familiar with our local community and some callers were not getting the best information and/or referral.  We rerouted the phone lines, and now when you call either 2-1-1 or (330) 263-6363 you will be routed directly here to our office and one of the friendly faces at United Way of Wayne and Holmes will answer your call.


With the re-launch of WHIRE, we were able to best serve the community in times of need.  In 2019, we helped the Wayne County Emergency Management with cataloging flood calls from Apple Creek.  While they were out assessing the damage, we were able to take the calls and catalog the damage on paper for them.  In 2020, we served as the COVID-19 Hotline.  Providing respite for the Health Department by answering thousands of questions from our community.  In 2021, we assisted the Wayne County Health Department, Wooster Community Hospital, Aultman Orrville Hospital and the Emergency Management Agency to serve as the Covid-19 Vaccine Hotline.  In 2022, already, the WHIRE line has been utilized as the Free Tax Assistance Hotline and the Winter Storm Landon Hotline.


In late 2021, Melita Wiles, a College of Wooster student, used the WHIRE data as a special project for one of her math courses.  Here is the full report.

Her findings revealed some amazing statistics about our local WHIRE line and the callers.

For example, the oldest caller was 102 years old, the busiest time for calls is Monday mornings from 9am - 12 noon and most callers are over 50 years old.  If you take out the COVID-19 related calls, the majority of calls are seeking a phone number.  Yes, we also act as a 4-1-1 to many.  Beside, assistance with taxes housing related issues are high on the list of needs.


The WHIRE line also allows us to identify gaps in service.  If we have many people needing a particular item, but don't have a local resource to assist them - that is a gap in service.  One gap in service that we have identified is low-cost bug remediation.


Each month, we release a log of the calls that we have received.  We call this the WHIRE BLOTTER. Explore the January 2022 WHIRE Blotter here. 


If you would like WHIRE posters, business cards or more information please call us at (330) 263-6363


A special shout out to MCTV for their generous support of this community resource.

One Flat Tire Away: The Reality For Working Families in Our Community

By Katie Koglman • May 5, 2026
One Flat Tire Away: The Reality for Working Families in Our Community By: Ashley Hershberger Around Holmes and Wayne Counties, people are doing what they’re supposed to do. They’re working. They’re showing up. They’re trying to get ahead. And still, far too many of our friends and neighbors are one flat tire, one home repair, or one unexpected bill away from falling behind . At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we hear this story all the time… from families, employers, school staff, churches, and local businesses. The problem isn’t effort. It’s that when something goes wrong, there’s just not much wiggle room. Who Is ALICE? You might hear our team talk about ALICE . It sounds like data, but it’s really the people we know: coworkers, parents from ball practice, folks sitting next to us at church and our own family members. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed . In plain terms: people who are working, but still can’t quite afford the basics. That includes things like housing, food, transportation, childcare, and healthcare. Here’s what that looks like in our community: Holmes County 31% of households are ALICE 9% live in poverty Wayne County 26% of households are ALICE 11% live in poverty That means 40% of households in Holmes County and 37% in Wayne County are living at or below the basic cost of living . These families aren’t avoiding work. Many are working full‑time, sometimes multiple jobs, and still making tough choices: Fix the car or pay the electric bill Buy groceries or fill a prescription Pay for childcare or turn down a better job That’s not bad decision‑making. That’s a math problem. What Household Survival Budgets Tell Us United Way uses Household Survival Budgets to understand what it actually costs to live. Not get ahead, not save… just cover the basics. When you add it all up (rent/mortgage, utilities, food, childcare, gas, healthcare, and taxes) a lot of working families simply don’t earn enough to keep up. Wages haven’t kept pace with real life costs, especially in areas like ours where getting to work often means getting in a car that you yourself are responsible for. That’s why so many hardworking people fall into the ALICE category, even while doing everything “right.” (See example budgets below)

The Day Off That Opened My Eyes

By Kayley Cox • April 6, 2026
The Day Off That Opened My Eyes I took the day off to chaperone my son’s Kindergarten field trip: fun, sweet, and honestly pretty exhausting. After dropping him back at school, I ran to the grocery store. At the checkout, the cashier asked how my day was going. I laughed and told her I was a little tired from keeping up with a group of five-year-olds all day at the field trip. She smiled and said she understood. She had recently retired from a local school district, and then she shared something that made me pause. Despite having worked all those years, she couldn’t afford to stay retired. She was still too young for Medicare, and health insurance premiums were simply unaffordable without additional income. Even with Social Security survivor benefits from her late husband, she was struggling to get by. So, she returned to the workforce. And she’s not alone. Far too many older adults are finding themselves in similar positions: forced back into work not because they want to, but because our systems leave them with no choice. Rising healthcare costs, gaps before Medicare eligibility, and limited fixed incomes mean many retirees simply cannot cover their basic needs. This wasn’t just a conversation in a grocery store checkout line. It was a reminder that the people who spent decades serving our communities, teaching, caregiving, supporting essential services, often face their own unseen challenges. We can do better. We have to do better. If this story resonates with you, here are a few meaningful ways you can help create change: 1. Support organizations helping older adults access healthcare and financial stability. United Way Wayne and Holmes partners with dozens of local nonprofits to support seniors who have nowhere else to turn. 2. Advocate for policies that protect affordable healthcare, strengthen Social Security, and support aging with dignity. Your voice truly matters. 3. Check in on retirees in your life. A simple “How are you really doing?” can make all the difference. 4. Get involved. Volunteer, donate, or share this message. Every action counts! Our older adults deserve more than scraping by. They deserve dignity, stability, and the ability to enjoy the retirement they worked for. Let’s work together to make that a reality.  For information about how to donate to help our Older Adults in Wayne and Holmes, go to uwwh.org, email us at info@uwwh.org or call (330) 264-5576.

You Don't Know, What You Don't Know

By Kayley Cox • March 5, 2026
You Don’t Know, What You Don’t Know At United Way, one of the most meaningful parts of my job is helping community members discover the resources that already exist to support them. Holmes and Wayne Counties are filled with compassionate organizations and services ready to help, but too often, people simply don’t know where to start. That’s where WHIRE/211 comes in. And although 211 has been in our community for over 60 years, many people still have no idea it exists. If you’ve never heard of 211, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most powerful tools we have, and yet, I constantly hear these same reactions when I mention it: “Wow, I had no idea.” “This was so informative.” “I wish I knew this sooner.” 📞 What Is 211? 211 is our local, 24/7 resource hotline. With just one call to 211 or the direct line (330) 263-6363, you’re connected to a live, compassionate operator who can guide you to essential services in our area. Whether you’re looking for: 🥫 Food assistance 🏠 Housing support 💼 Workforce development 🧠 Mental health services 🚗 Transportation help 👶 Childcare options …or any other community resource, 211 is your starting point. And the best part? It’s anonymous and available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 (or 366 if leap year) days a year. 💬 Why Awareness Matters I’ve spoken at schools, met with nonprofits, and presented to local businesses. And every time, I’m reminded of how powerful awareness can be. People are genuinely surprised to learn how much help is just one phone call away. So many resources that our own community members don’t know exist. That’s why spreading the word about 211 is so important. Whether you’re a community leader, a neighbor, or someone simply looking for help, knowing about 211 can make all the difference.  📣 Help Us Share the Message If you’ve used 211, tell someone about it. If you haven’t, save the number. And if you’re part of a group, organization, or business that serves our community, consider inviting United Way to share more about how 211 is a free resource right in our community. To schedule a brief presentation or meeting about WHIRE/211, contact me at kayley@uwwh.org Because you don’t know what you don’t know, but now that you do, share it. The more we know, the more we can help, and the stronger our community becomes.
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