It's National 211 Day - a time to reflect on all that the service provides, especially during these tough times.

United Way of Connecticut’s 211 is also celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The 211 service played a critical role during the governor’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol, the longest stretch of extreme cold the state has seen in recent years.

Since Dec. 4, the governor has activated the protocol six times—a total of 18 nights and 24 days. During that time, 211 responded to more than 10,000 requests for shelter.

Originally established as “Infoline” in 1976, 211 is a free, confidential service that connects people with the help they need every day of the year.

“We’ve served literally millions of Connecticut residents over those 50 years. Every year, right now and in most recent years, we’ve served at least a million different requests for help. So if you really think back in time—and unfortunately the data doesn’t capture all 50 years—we have served millions of Connecticut residents and generations,” said United Way of Connecticut President and CEO Lisa Tepper Bates.

There was also a surge in 211 demand during the November SNAP freeze, when weekly requests spiked more than tenfold. The governor recently announced a $2.6 million investment in 211’s services to hire additional staff.