This is a “shout out” to the Grace Works Ministries VITA in Franklin, TN. They have decided to open one day a month, post filing season to help low income taxpayers with any amended returns, problem returns, and extensions. This site is showing an 11.5% increase in production from last year. Each of their volunteers certified to the Advance level in order to help as many taxpayers as they could.
Thank you Patricia L. for sharing this great news.
This is an awesome story submitted by Jim at Scottsdale Community College
Caitlin enrolled in our Scottsdale Community College (SCC) income tax class where we use VITA materials for part of the course instruction. These students are invited to volunteer in the SCC VITA program, and Caitlin decided to volunteer. She attended the 4-day training prior to tax season as a refresher, and brought her sister, Faith, along. On the second day of training, their other sister Emily tagged along (just waiting for a ride to another event), and she became interested. All became certified and volunteered. Later, during the tax season, Faith’s dad (Dennis, a CPA) stopped by the site to see what we were doing, and he got certified. Faith and Dennis decided to take the tax class the following semester to expand their tax knowledge to partnerships and corporations, and one day during a special study session, Dennis’ wife, Mary attended. She became interested in taxes, and she got certified. Mary now serves the invaluable role as Screener, and all in the family are volunteering this tax season. Thanks to all of them!
Thank you for your Volunteer Service!
Along with doing over 2000 returns so far this year, last week they hosted a Tax Problem Solving Day. Below are the results and information.
The Advocates saw 20 taxpayers. All eleven appointments came plus nine walk-ins. In all the situations, the taxpayers needed to see an advocate for solution. Some of the taxpayers were referred back to VITA to have returns filed.
The site is also planning on opening one day a month post filing season, in order to help these and additional taxpayers with amendments or problems.
Thank you Patricia L for submitting this “Shout out”
The Volunteers with the United Way of Pasco County in Florida are doing an EXCELLENT job! They have prepared more returns this year so far than they did last year and still going strong! WAY TO GO TEAM!!!
Thank you Kelly S for sharing this message
The volunteers at this AARP site work so well together it is like they are a family. They go beyond the expected and norm, both with each other and with the individuals who come in to have their taxes prepared. For example, while I was there, the greeter saw a few clients were waiting to be called to the preparation room, so she filled the time by informing them of some of the fraudulent tax scams currently taking place. In addition, one of the clients had recently lost her husband and was/is still very emotional. When the greeter saw this, she immediately came to her side to console her and assured her that she was in good hands; that they would take very good care of her. (Her deceased husband had always handled the taxes.) I could continue to outline more examples of how the volunteers work seamlessly together but I think these two examples outline the exceptional volunteers at this site.
These are not volunteers who come together once a year to file taxes for people; these are individuals who welcome any and all to their community and provide the best service they can with a giving and open hearts.
Community Action Partnership of Utah (CAP Utah) continues to do an outstanding job coordinating the statewide VITA program in Utah. From Logan to Saint George and all points in between, they have you covered! Consisting of 9 geographical regions with their very own regional coordinator, the Earn It, Keep It, Save It! Utah Coalition has been around for over 10 years. What also sets them apart is their impressive website at utahtaxhelp.org! There you can find a VITA site, learn about MFT and even sign up to volunteer in one convenient location. Check it out to see how CAP Utah does VITA in Utah and a big applause for their participation in VITA all these years!
Thank you for your volunteer service.
Thank you Kori and Leland for sharing
Thank you Rhonda T for sharing this awesome story.
Under the sponsorship of Heart of West Michigan United Way, Kent County Tax Credit Coalition (KCTCC) has been offering VITA service in Western Michigan since 2004. Over the years KCTCC has managed to retain an average of 150 – 160 volunteers each year, for 2018 KCTCC has a total of 227 dedicated volunteers working at 12 sites. When Brenda B., Program Manager of KCTCC was asked what she believes contributes to the success of their volunteer retention she replied “ We try to keep it exciting for our volunteers”.
With help from their marketing department, workplace campaign and, donor relations Heart of West Michigan United Way has been able to advertise and recruit using a variety of sources including flyers, coupons, bus signs, bill boards, and social media to name a few. This year’s big hit was the use of beverage coasters advertising Free Tax Preparation. “The coasters were distributed throughout Kent County wherever people gathered. We handed them out in churches, stores, restaurants, on the street and, even bars so I was told” laughed Brenda. Volunteers are also involved in the recruitment process; with the support of local athletic teams volunteers can win event tickets by recruiting other volunteers and having their names entered into drawings. Volunteers have won tickets for Grand Rapids Griffins (Hockey) and Grand Rapids Drive (Basketball) games.
Many thanks to everyone involved in the Heart of West Michigan United Way / Kent County Tax Credit Coalition VITA Program for a Job Well Done!
