Ross Medical Education Center’s Roosevelt Park, Michigan campus recently welcomed Sara Johnson, Executive Director from Lakeshore 211. Sara spent time speaking with students about what Lakeshore 211 does and how the organization helps members of the community receive or find resources for just about anything, including shelter, food, electricity, counseling, day care and much more. As future healthcare professionals, it is important for students to know where to send patients for resources.
Lakeshore 211 serves 18 counties along the Lake Michigan shoreline, from Ottawa County in west Michigan all the way up to Emmet County in the northern tip of the lower peninsula. As a partner of the United Way, Lakeshore 211 provides a way for residents along the Lake Michigan lakeshore to connect with health and human service programs. They also dedicate themselves to promoting community education on a variety of topics.
Community members can just dial 2-1-1 to quickly be connected to Lakeshore 211. Then they will help provide resources to assist citizens with services such as paying utility bills and finding daycare, transportation, food, etc. According to the call-211.org website, the mission of Lakeshore 211 is “to increase access to community services through effective and compassionate information and referral. Our program and our staff is committed to fulfilling this mission and to upholding the values that serve as the foundation for the way CALL operates.”
“Having the Lakeshore 211 come to Ross and do a presentation was eye opening for not just me but all the students and instructors,” shared Campus Direcotr Leslie Jolman. “I think we all learned something and found out there is a lot of resources for just about anything and anyone. Having United Way sponsor our Lakeshore 211 is so rewarding, because we know there are resources and help for our students and community. A source of comfort that can help is a phone call away, 24/7.”