WELCOME TO NATIONAL 2-1-1 DAY
My cookies this week are dedicated to the staff of my wonderful United Way of Lancaster County PA 2-1-1 East. Their patient voices of an oh-so-demanding job leave me in total wonder at times. I am not a patient person and knowing that flaw about myself, I know this is not a job I could do EVER.
So, they asked me to make cookies in the shape of the number 211, which I am going to do happily. I am putting together some combined tastes from their suggestions of what they want in their cookies and sharing it with you. But to learn more about 2-1-1, I am providing links to both the US and Canada's websites….
To access information about 2-1-1 in the US, please visit www.211.org
To access information about 2-1-1 in Canada, please visit www.211.ca.
2-1-1 is the most comprehensive source of local human and social services information in the U.S. and Canada. Specialists are available 24/7 to help you access the best local resources and services to address any need.
Reach out to 2-1-1 to speak with a community resource specialist in your area who can help you find services and resources that are available to you locally and provide critical services that can improve- and save lives. You’ll find help with:
• supplemental food and nutrition programs
• shelter and housing options and utility assistance
• emergency information and disaster relief
• employment and education opportunities
• services for veterans
• health care, vaccination, and health epidemic information
• addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs
• reentry help for ex-offenders
• support groups for individuals with mental illnesses or special needs
• a safe, confidential path out of physical and/or emotional domestic abuse
2-1-1 is committed to being the first, most essential resource to anyone who needs help. We help thousands of people overcome barriers and address challenges every day.
2018 2-1-1 IMPACT
In 2018, 2-1-1s across the U.S. made more than 12.8 million connections to help.
Referrals were most often made for housing or utility assistance, physical or mental health services, assistance finding and obtaining employment, and services to address and prevent homelessness. The 2-1-1 network also answers dozens of crisis hotlines, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
As of 2018, 2-1-1 is available to 94.2% of the U.S. population.
UNITED WAY AND 2-1-1
United Way is committed to the vital service 2-1-1s provide to their communities every day. In fact, the United Way of Greater Atlanta was the first organization to make information and referral services accessible using the 2-1-1 dialing code in 1997.
In 2000, United Ways and other non-profit organizations operating helplines successfully lobbied the FCC to make 2-1-1 a dedicated number for people in need of local information and resources. Today, United Ways operate or provide funding for over 70% of 2-1-1 centers. United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community, leveraging and promoting 2-1-1 as a critical partner in its work.
Adapted from http://www.211.org/pages/about
Cookie recipe adapted from Cooking with Karli
National 211 Day Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups All purpose flour 360 g
- 1 cup Sugar white 198 g
- 1 cup Butter unsalted 2 sticks room temperature
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 Egg
- 2 tsp Baking powder 8 g
Instructions
- In a bowl weigh or measure the flour and baking powder. I run a whisk through to blend them together. Set the bowl aside.
- In a stand or hand-held mixer cream butter and sugar for at least 3 minutes to get all the sugar incorporated into the butter. I stopped and scraped down the sides before adding the vanilla extract and the 1 egg. Blend it for at least a minute to get it mixed together.
- Turn the mixer down to low and gradually add the flour and baking powder to the creamed mixture. You want this dough to be a little stiff because you are going to roll it out. Use your favorite surface and rolling pin to roll out the dough. If you are cramped for space cut the dough in half. I found that after the 3rd or 4th time of rolling out the dough it got very soft but they baked up fine.
- I used plastic cookie cutters and they work great with this dough. They do not spread hardly at all when baking so you can space them 1 inch apart and bake for 6 to 10. I am giving this spread of time because it all depends on how thick you make your cookies.
- Most of mine were about ¼ in thick and they took 8 minutes but I had a tray that had thicker cookies on it that were closer to ⅜ that needed the extra time.
- Leave them on the cookie pan for a minute after taking them out of the oven before moving to a cooling rack. You can decorate them any way you want this is a great basic recipe that you can change up just by using different icings or just eat plain.
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