211 is a national network of community resource agencies. You can call them at 211 or visit them online to get connected with assistance and resources for needs such as housing, healthcare, and food assistance.
You can utilize 211 to learn more about problems in your community by taking the following steps:
1. Go to - https://www.211.org/about-us/your-local-211.
2. Enter your zip code in the search bar then select search.
3. Information about the zip code will appear below. Select the Search for resources link. Note that it's possible that you may be directed to a non-211 website, but you should be able to find similar information.
4. A new webpage will open. Browse the types of resources to identify common issues in your community. For example, if resources associated with food include food pantries and soup kitchens, you could identify hunger or food insecurity as potential issues in your area.
n addition to consulting local resources in your community to gather information to inform your solutions to your problem, it is important to also consult the scholarly research to learn about the severity of the problem and effective solutions being experienced beyond your own community. By now, you probably have some good keywords to plug into a library search, like food insecurity, food vouchers, and food pantries. If you add words like programs or grants, you can find examples of evidence other scholars have used to solve a community problem.
Here is a library search example.
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Select the Advanced Search link on the library homepage.
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In the first blank box, enter food insecurity.
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Enter food pantries OR vouchers in the second blank box. Using OR will give you results with either of these terms.
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Enter programs or grants in the third box.
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Scroll down the page and select the option to limit to scholarly/peer-reviewed.
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Select the past five years option from the published date filter.
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Select search to view your results.
Consult the Advance Search Techniques tip sheet to adjust your search.
If you still have questions you can chat in real-time with a librarian here.