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.

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Why we stay nonpartisan

By Katie Koglman • October 7, 2026

United We Help: Why United Way Wayne and Holmes Stays Nonpartisan Turn on the television. Scroll social media. Check your mailbox. Election season brings a steady stream of political messages, each competing for our attention and asking us to choose a side. It can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to separate facts from opinions and decide whom to trust. At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we value the trust our community places in us. That is why we want to be clear about our role during elections.We do not endorse candidates, oppose candidates, or tell people whom to vote for. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we are prohibited from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. This is a legal requirement , not simply an organizational preference. Our responsibility is to serve Wayne and Holmes Counties and bring people together to help our neighbors. Nonpartisan does not mean silent We see the challenges people face every day: families struggling to afford groceries, workers facing transportation barriers, children needing opportunities to learn, and neighbors searching for mental health support. We have a role in helping our community and policymakers understand those needs. We can share information, educate elected officials, build relationships, and speak up about issues connected to our mission. We can also engage in some lobbying on specific legislation, within the limits that apply to charitable organizations. Speaking up about a community need is different from asking you to vote for a particular candidate. Can we do that? Our “Can We Do That? A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Advocacy” graphic uses a traffic-light approach to explain the difference. Green: Speak up for our community. Share stories, explain community needs, educate policymakers, and encourage civic participation. Yellow: Know the rules. Supporting or opposing specific legislation is lobbying, which comes with limits and responsibilities. Red: No candidate endorsements. We cannot support or oppose candidates, contribute organizational funds to their campaigns, or use our organizational voice to tell you whom to elect. We can encourage people to register and vote, and provide voter information, as long as those efforts remain neutral and do not favor or oppose candidates or political parties. Your vote belongs to you You may hear us discuss hunger, literacy, housing, transportation, or other issues affecting local families. You may see us meeting with elected officials to help them understand what is happening in our communities. Those conversations are about the people we serve. They are not candidate endorsements. We encourage you to ask questions, examine reliable information, learn about candidates, and make your own informed choices. The neighbors who turn to us for help have different backgrounds, beliefs, and political views. So do the donors, volunteers, and partners who make our work possible. Helping our community takes all of us. Election season will come and go. Our commitment to Wayne and Holmes counties continues regardless of the outcome. We encourage all of you to vote, and vote for who you think is the best candidate! Early voting begins October 6, 2026 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. To find where you should go to vote Click Here. Go VOTE!!