Community Issues

• Public transportation is limited in some areas and rising gas prices make many low-income families choose between driving to work or buying food.
• Methamphetamine use is on the rise, accounting for one-quarter of all felonies in the county last year.

• Last year, Dakota County residents made 9,400 calls to United Way 2-1-1™, our community resource and referral line. More than 75 percent of the calls were requests for help meeting basic needs like food and shelter. 

Our Response

• Food, housing, counseling services and other services are provided to people who need help by our community partners, like Community Action Council, who provided shelter to 640 women and children in 2004.
• Last year, 677,600 meals were served to people in need throughout the nine-county region by United Way-supported programs.
• United Way 2-1-1™ is a free and confidential resource and referral line available 24/7.  Just dial 2-1-1.
• See what we're doing in your community. View our Dakota County Fact Sheet (PDF).

Making a Difference

• Jeff: Blind magician teaches others disability awareness
• Dakota County partner agencies

Get Involved

Find Dakota County volunteer opportunities.