KC Streetcar partners with United Way of Greater Kansas City to promote 211 helpline
This Friday, June 6, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., KC Streetcar and United Way of Greater Kansas City are teaming up to bring the “Call Someone You Love” phone booth experience to the Crossroads southbound streetcar stop at 19th & Main Street. This unique public installation is part of a broader campaign to raise awareness about United Way’s 211 hotline, a free and confidential service connecting people across 23 counties in the Kansas City region with essential human services.
The activation is especially timely as 211 is experiencing continued high call volume. Last year, it received more than 467,000 contacts (a combination of phone calls and unique website visits). In the first four months of this year, 5,000 more calls were received than the same time frame in 2024. The 211 helpline plays a vital role in connecting community members with a variety of needs such as housing, transportation, utility assistance, services for the unhoused, and more. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with interpretation available in 150 languages.
Visitors are invited to enter the phone booth to hear a recorded message about the 211 service. After listening, they’ll be encouraged to record an audio and video message to someone they love—or share words of encouragement to anyone who might need them. United Way will collect and edit these messages as part of an ongoing storytelling project aimed at spreading hope and connection.
“Bringing this experience to the KC Streetcar route allows us to meet people where they are—right in the heart of the city,” said United Way 211 Executive Director and Community Impact Vice President Todd Jordan, PhD. “This partnership helps us reach those who may not know that help is just a phone call away. 211 is a gateway to support, and this activation is a way to amplify that message through connection and compassion.”
The installation will take place on the Crossroads southbound streetcar stop at 19th and Main Street. The activation will run from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. United Way and KC Streetcar staff will be onsite to facilitate the experience. Streetcar service and access will not be affected during the event.
This installation follows a successful debut at MADE MOBB’s May First Friday and The Kritiq Fashion Show and continues United Way’s commitment to creative community outreach.
Media: For more information about 211, visit 211KC.org. For KC Streetcar questions, contact Donna Mandelbaum with the KC Streetcar Authority at 816.627.2526 (office), 816.877.3219 (cell) or by email at dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org. The KC Streetcar is also online at www.kcstreetcar.org and on BlueSky, Facebook, and Instagram.