Never Too Old to Learn Something New
Education as adults comes in many forms and 2-1-1 is here to get you connected. Are you looking for tips on saving money and spending it more wisely? Are you applying for a promotion and need to brush up on certain skills? Is English your second(or third, or fourth…) language and you’d like some assistance with honing your grammar skills? Many of these classes are FREE or low cost, keep reading to learn more. (more…)
LIVE UNITED: Unemployed? Try Working for Free.
It may sound crazy, especially when you’re struggling financially, but volunteering can be a great way to find a job. You may not find a job with the company you are volunteering for, but through networking, outstanding performance and building up necessary skills, you’ll get a boost down the road to employment. Do you have an obstacle that’s consistently preventing you from being hired, such as: a gap in employment, former incarceration, or lack of recommendations? Volunteering gives you a chance to prove your merit, fill in that gap and if you do a great job… come away with a shining recommendation. It also puts you back in the game, contributing your skills and supporting your community. This helps build your self esteem and that will come across as you go in for interviews. An additional option you may want to consider if you are facing any of the obstacles listed above is to get Federally Bonded.
The United Way has approximately 200 volunteer opportunities for Marion County listed through our Volunteer Resource Center. Starting with a quick search is a great first step. Did someone you know get a job through volunteering? Tell us about it in the comments.
Losing Hope
FREE Football Camp with NFL players Drayton Florence & Mike Peterson
Drayton Florence of Ocala, NFL Football player with the Carolina Panthers, will hold a Youth Football Camp in Ocala, Florida on July 13th at the Webb Stadium. Special guest Mike Peterson, NFL Football player with the Atlanta Falcons will be present. NFL players scheduled to appear in addition to Florence and Peterson include Clinton Hart, Spencer Johnson, Mike McIntosh, and Cleo Lemon.
This FREE, non-contact camp will be held from 6 to 9:30 pm and is open to boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18. For additional information please call (352) 577-2333.
Only the first 150 registrants will be accepted!
Stands will be open to the public and for the first time.
2-1-1 Success: Balancing a Budget
Sometimes our best intentions can unintentionally lead us to difficult times. When Ms. Waters* contacted 2-1-1, she was struggling with her bills and debt after trying to take a step in the right direction by opening a bank account. In the process of moving toward building up some savings, she ended up buried in bank fees that she didn’t realize she was accruing. She got pulled into a cycle of trying to get caught up and out of the fees. Having a fixed and limited income, due to her disability, this was a daunting and increasingly impossible task. Her stress levels were going up, and with her disability that meant running the risk of re-occurring health problems. Marsha Holloway, with the United Way, let us know that Ms. Waters is not alone. She shared that frequently participants in the United Way financial education workshops are in the same situation with a bank having accrued fees that they can not pay due to financial hardship. (more…)
Need Help with Mortgage, Employment or Vet Benefits?
Then mark June 22 on your calendar!
Free Mortgage Assistance Event for Struggling Homeowners
The Mortgage Assistance event is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (Multi-Purpose Conference Room), 3300 NW 10th Street, Ocala, FL 33607.
Community Legal Services of Mid Florida (CLSMF) is working with Fannie Mae to provide Florida homeowners struggling with their mortgage payments with an opportunity to receive information regarding their situation and even free mortgage assistance. Homeowners can meet with Fannie Mae representatives, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida counselors and Florida Hardest-Hit Fund (HHF) advisors to determine if they may be able to qualify for HHF assistance and explore other foreclosure prevention options.
Veterans Benefit Assistance Fair:
When: June 22 10a-1p
Where: CF – Klein Center 3001 SW College Rd Ocala, FL 34474
Call: 352-351-1670
Information and Assistance Provided Will Include:
-Veterans Claims Services
-Education Benefits
-Housing/Social Services/Medical Services
Free Job Fair at Hampton Inn Crystal River:
New Location for Hampton Inn #Job Fair on June 22. It will take place @ the Holiday Inn Express in Crystal River: http://t.co/J5QZoJLYdi
— WorkforceCLM (@WorkforceCLM) June 13, 2013
What’s new at 2-1-1?
In May at 2-1-1 we added the following programs and agencies to our database for Marion County. Below each agency/program you’ll see “Ask 2-1-1”, these are the key terms you can use to look up the resources on your own via our online database, or when you call 2-1-1 you can mention those terms to the Information and Referral Specialist to get a list of resources for that service in your area. (more…)
A Little Bird Told Me… About TS #Andrea
A mere six days into hurricane season, Florida’s first Tropical Storm is underway and will be touching down today. If Andrea is causing you concern for your safety and/or property, keep in touch with 2-1-1 and your local Emergency Management office to find out where to get sand bags, flooding assistance and where to report power outages.
Emergency Management offices and News Centers throughout FL have taken to twitter. Below are some tweets for Marion and neighboring counties as well as links to emergency management information.
Contact your local Emergency Management office to sign up for ALERTS.
NWS Tallahassee: #Andrea to make landfall in next couple of hours along Dixie County coast (about 60mi W of UF). http://t.co/fVtWp7FiYt 1/2
— The Alligator (@TheAlligator) June 6, 2013
Ocala establishes sandbag stations http://t.co/CBlCr3g733
— Ocala Star-Banner (@OcalaStarBanner) June 6, 2013
211 UWMC 