DIANE’S STORY

Diane Bennett, 62, has always been the one to help others – caring for sick relatives, raising four children, and working in nursing for over 20 years. After years of struggling with painful knee problems, both her knees collapsed, and Diane had to make changes to make ends meet. United Way’s PA 2-1-1 Southwest helped her find hope.

Diane was working at a prison ministry when she found the number for 2-1-1 on a resource sheet she was giving out as people were released from prison. She realized that maybe she needed that sheet, and called 2-1-1 to ask for help.

“Many days I was devastated because I was always the person on the other end helping people,” Diane said. “But now I needed help. 2-1-1 was so instrumental in helping me get by.”

Resource referrals from 2-1-1 helped Diane find transportation to her doctor’s appointments, help paying her utility down payment for her apartment, and free tax preparation services with United Way’s Free Tax Preparation initiative. Diane was also connected to free health care through Catholic Charities.

“I went to Catholic Charities not knowing what to expect,” Diane said. “They treated me like gold, like I was somebody. I almost went out of there skipping, with two bad knees.”

Because of 2-1-1, Diane is able to continue moving forward. She got a double knee replacement in July 2016 and is looking forward to making a full recovery and starting her own nonprofit organization. In the meantime, Diane is working on her Master’s in Organizational Leadership at Geneva College.

“I want to keep my independence,” Diane said. “And with the hand up – not hand out – from 2-1-1, I can do that.”