When Jacksonville mom Dana first called 211, she never imagined how deeply that one phone call would transform her life and, later, the lives of many others.

After a car accident, Dana, a single mother of six, was struggling to stay afloat. She knew she needed help, but reaching out wasn’t easy. “I had a serious problem swallowing my pride and reaching out,” she remembers. “It was hard for me, but it turned out to be a great experience in terms of learning that it’s OK to ask for help sometimes.”

That call connected her with the resources she needed. 211, a free, 24/7 resource helpline run locally by United Way of Northeast Florida, connects individuals and families with support for utilities, housing, mental health and other basic needs. What Dana received went far beyond short-term assistance, though: it set her on the path to a better future.

211 connected her to the emergency resources she needed to get her family through this crisis. But its support didn’t stop there. 211 also connected Dana to United Way’s RealSense program, which provides free tax preparation and financial education to families all over Northeast Florida.

Taking what she learned from RealSense’s financial education workshops, Dana opened and maintained a bank account, paid off her car and even has a line of credit with a low interest rate. “These may seem like simple things to many people,” she said. “However, this was a serious challenge for me for many years and something that I feared would keep me in the depths of poverty. I am thankful to say I can easily bank and budget much better since the classes. My kids all have their own accounts as well.”

Now, more than six years later since first sharing her story, her connection to United Way has only deepened. Since being helped by 211, she has become one of United Way of Northeast Florida’s most passionate advocates. She’s shared her story at events across Jacksonville — from Boy Scouts of America meetings to local banks and hospitals — using her experience to encourage others to support United Way’s mission. She even spoke to a crowd of hundreds during its 100th anniversary concert celebration, Uniting For Tomorrow.

“The speaking engagements have also given me a confidence that I don’t think I would have gained otherwise,” she said. “Speaking in front of people about personal experiences is something I never thought I would be able to do. It has helped me find a voice at work and even within my own family that I didn’t know I had.”

Today, she continues to give back in every way she can: raising funds for United Way and sharing information about Mission United, 211 and the 988 Florida Lifeline. “Being helped by 211 has inspired me to help others,” Dana said. “I match them up with resources that I know about because of my own experience with 211.”

She also champions community impact firsthand by volunteering with various local organizations. She is currently working closely with a local nonprofit that provides professional attire, mentoring and career support to help individuals reenter the workforce.

Dana’s story is proof that asking for help can lead to strength, empowerment and new purpose — and that a single phone call can change not just one life, but many.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be part of United Way,” she said. “So many awesome people at United Way work every day to make Northeast Florida a better place.”