By Ashley Monroe, 211 Community Resource Navigator
When I first started working at Mile High United Way’s 211 Help Center, I wasn’t totally sure what I would be doing. But I knew I wanted to help people, and this was a place where I could make a difference.
Fifteen months later, I am so grateful and fulfilled to work at Mile High United Way. 211 is a free, multilingual service that connects Coloradans to basic needs resources. Every day I help people access everything from housing and utility assistance, to food benefits and transportation. Sometimes, I just sit and listen as someone shares about their hard day.
None of us ever fully knows what the person next to us is going through. Sometimes it just takes the right person giving the right resources to help a neighbor go from living in their car to safe, transitional housing; or going from experiencing hunger to knowing there are resources to help them feed their family.
The 211 database has thousands of resources across Colorado, but sometimes I’m unable to find services near a caller, or they may not qualify for a benefit. When I think about those difficult calls, I find myself wondering if a neighbor found the help they need. Other times, when I help someone find a shelter or food pantry near them, I almost feel like a superhero.
Working at Mile High United Way is deeply personal for me. My dad was a veteran and often experienced mental health issues. He never really talked about it, but it was always there. During the pandemic, he was laid off from work and eventually experienced homelessness because of the instability and financial strain. He passed away a few months later. I wish I’d known about 211 back then; it was really hard watching him struggle and not having resources to help.
Now, I’m proud to be a part of the solution for others in our community who need a little extra support. Even when I’m not working, I find myself giving resources to friends and neighbors or encouraging people I meet to contact 211.
I always remind myself to treat people with genuine love and patience because they’re someone’s loved one. I think about how I’d want my family to be treated if they were having a hard time.
I know asking for help can be very humbling. I also know our community is strongest when we lean on each other and extend a kind, helping hand.
I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life, and I want to raise my children in a thriving community. I’m grateful that Mile High United Way and the 211 Help Center are here to help ensure everyone has access to the resources they need to not just survive, but to grow and succeed.
That is why I do this work – to help create a bright future for everyone who calls Metro Denver home.
ABOUT ASHLEY MONROE:
Born and raised in Denver, Ashley has been a part of Mile High United Way’s 211 Help Center team since 2024. In addition to serving our community, Ashley is a mother of two and lives in Denver with her husband, DeAngelo.
