David Berk is independent, self-reliant and multi-talented. He’s a man who takes pride in doing and caring for others. He’s not someone who’s accustomed to asking for help.

David and Gail, his wife of 25 years, moved to Tryon in 2010. Originally from Minnesota, a change in position at 3M took the Berks to Florida in 2000, and sales travel brought them to Polk County. After driving through Tryon, it took less than 24 hours for David and Gail to decide this would be their new home and put a contract in on a house on Hogback Mountain.

Fast forward to March 2015. Now “retired,” David is working as an EMT, a school bus driver and in maintenance at Polk Central Elementary School. He likes to be busy and he likes to help others. Gail is a barrista at Open Road Coffee. The Berks are settled and content in their new life until sudden pain and difficulty breathing reveals Gail has lung cancer.

Fast forward another three months. Gail is getting treatment at Gibbs Cancer Center and is in her third round of heavy chemotherapy. She’s weak, nauseated, and can’t be left alone for long periods of time. David has already stopped driving the school bus in order to care for Gail. Friends offer to help, but finding coverage for David’s long EMT shifts overwhelms their availability.

With a four day EMT commitment looming, David is distraught. He can’t leave his wife alone and he’s committed to work an event in Hendersonville. David remembers seeing a 2-1-1 pamphlet at the Polk Rescue Squad office. And there’s another on display in the counselor’s office at Polk Central. David is desperate. As I’ve said, David isn’t one to ask for help – he’s the one who helps others. But he picks up the phone and dials 2-1-1.

Tears fill David’s eyes as he describes the referral specialist who answered his call.

“She was awesome. The care, compassion and concern she expressed was overwhelming.  She was kind and she was reassuring. She consulted her database and provided me with two options for home care services–one based in Rutherfordton and one right here in Lynn on Highway 108. I had passed Seasons of Life Home Care every day and never noticed it was there.”

Less than 24 hours after making his call to 2-1-1, David had a health care professional provided by Seasons of Life Home Care at his home caring for his wife.  He expresses overwhelming gratitude for the availability of the 2-1-1 helpline and for the warmth and kindness of the referral specialist who answered his call. David graciously shared his story for this column with the hope that it would heighten public awareness of 2-1-1 and encourage others who need to be connected with resources to pick up the phone and make the call.

When you need help and don’t know where to turn, call 2-1-1. It’s free, confidential, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in any language.

2-1-1 Helpline was brought to Polk County through the efforts of Polk Fit, Fresh and Friendly (PF3) with funding provided by Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry, Steps to Hope, Seasons of Life Home Care, Western Carolina Community Action, Region C Workforce Development, Region C Area on Aging, Hospice of Carolina Foothills, and Rutherford Polk McDowell Heath District.

If you would like more information about 2-1-1 or PF3 contact PF3 at http://www.polkfitfreshandfriendly.org/contact-us.html.