Maryland is speeding up its vaccination timeline, following the lead of other states and recommendations from federal officials as the surge of deaths and hospitalizations in the U.S. associated with COVID-19 continues.

President and CEO Quinton Askew talks about all of the ways to access this information through text with the 898211 text lines on your cellphone or by calling 211.

Hunger and isolation are two devastating side effects of the pandemic. But eager volunteers are stepping up. Quinton Askew leads 2-1-1 Maryland, the state’s health and human-services hotline. Volunteers have answered 36,000 calls a month, on average, since March. He describes how 2-1-1 helps seniors grocery shop, take their medications, and navigate telehealth appointments.

The ALICE in Maryland: A Financial Hardship Study provides insight into the budget minimums needed for households to reach both financial survival and stability, based on the costs of basic essentials.

The 211 Maryland number can help you get help with food, mental health services and more. Leaders with 211 Maryland said thousands of people are calling a day since the coronavirus pandemic hit. “Since COVID, we’ve seen almost a 40% to 50% increase in calls, so almost over 3,000 calls per day,” said Quinton Askew, president…

“We are encouraging folks to call us if they have anxiety or just want to talk,” said Quinton Askew, president and CEO of 211 Maryland.