Free 211 Helpline for Finding Berks County Services From United Way
United Way of Berks County runs 211, the number to call when you need help finding health and human services in Berks County. A trained information and referral specialist answers your call or text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and asks you a series of questions to understand your needs before pointing you to resources.
It is for every person in the community. In a crisis, in a disaster, in a pandemic, 211 connects people to essential services. The page does not list income limits or any other requirement.
211 has information on a broad range of services, including housing, which covers payment assistance, eviction and other landlord and tenant issues, emergency shelter and subsidized housing; utilities, which covers mediation assistance and help with water, gas, fuel, phone and electric bills; family resources, which covers child care, online learning resources, camps, child development and emergency family support; food, which covers food pantries, home delivered meals, sit down meals, assistance programs and pet care; elder care, which covers in-home assistance, health and nutrition, support and transportation; health, which covers physical, mental and dental health, medical transportation, vaccines and insurance; and after-school programs.
There are three ways to reach 211: - Dial 211. - Text your zip code to 898-211 during normal business hours. The page does not say what those hours are. - Live chat or search at pa211east.org.
The service is available 24/7, free, bilingual and confidential. Help is available in multiple languages. A flyer about 211 can be downloaded in English and Spanish.
The page also lists direct phone numbers for other Berks County organizations, including Helping Harvest for food support at 610-926-5802, Opportunity House emergency shelter at 610-374-4696, Mid Penn Legal Services at 610-376-8656, Safe Berks at 610-373-1206, Berks Coalition to End Homelessness at 610-372-7222 and Family Guidance Center at 610-378-5403.
United Way of Berks County is at 25 N. 2nd Street, Suite 101, Reading, PA 19601, and its office number is 610-685-4550.
Source: uwberks.org/call-211, read September 18, 2026.
The details
- Available 24/7
- Free
- Bilingual
- Confidential
- Dial 211
- Visit pa211east.org
- Text your zip code to 898-211 (during normal business hours)
In United Way of Berks County’s words
If you need help finding health and human services in Berks County, make 211 your first call for help. If you need help, contact 211 to connect to community resources. 211 is Berks County’s lifeline for help. In a crisis, in a disaster, in a pandemic, 211 is here to help every person in our community connect to essential services. A trained information and referral specialist will answer your call or text 24/7 and ask you a series of questions in order to understand your unique needs. Help is…
Organization
United Way of Berks County
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This listing summarizes publicly available information from uwberks.org/call-211. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.