SEASONAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!
Please join the hundreds of dedicated VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers who participate in free tax preparation and financial empowerment programs coordinated by NYCfNAC and our credit union partners during the tax season from January through April.
Find out how to become a Volunteer Tax Preparer, Volunteer Credit Coach, Volunteer Intake Specialist, or a Volunteer Outreach Associate for the VITA program!
We Also Host Year Round AmeriCorps VISTA Members at NYCfNAC and Our Credit Union Partners! |
Volunteer Q and A with Martha What is your favorite part of the VITA Program? Hands down, serving the members of the community who patronize VITA sites is my favorite part of the program. Why do you think VITA is important? Without this program, many low income people would avoid filing their taxes, or, they would pay an exorbitant fee for tax preparation or take out an expensive “rapid refund loan.” Importantly, VITA serves as a bridge between low income families and the Earned Income Tax Credit (a refundable credit which can be quite sizable), which is one of the largest anti-poverty tools available in the U.S. How long and where have you volunteered during the VITA season? Over the years, I have volunteered anywhere from four to ten hours per week, depending upon the needs of the site and on my availability. This past year, I served at Union Settlement Federal Credit Union’s VITA site at Homebase Palladia in East Harlem. In previous years, I served at other East Harlem sites. Do you have any stories you would like to share? Each client has their own story, and I feel as though there are too many to relay! I do recall one woman who came to me with a return that had been completed incorrectly, which resulted in her not receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit. Upon reviewing and correcting the return, and informing her that her refund would be in excess of $5000, the client hugged me and invited me to a party at her apartment! What suggestions do you have for new tax preparation volunteers? A few mantras for you: “You get out of it what you put into it” and, “Attention to detail makes the difference between good and great” I would tell new volunteers that there is going to be an adjustment period-- the initial discomfort is normal but you get through it with hands-on experience. It’s not about math skill; it’s simply about mastering the system for completing tax returns. Also, there will always be more experienced volunteers or staff onsite who can answer your questions and help you. You should make sure that you know who they are. Do you plan to volunteer with VITA next year? Yes – it’s always a balancing act with other commitments, but involvement in VITA is something I plan for every year. |
MEET VOLUNTEER TAX PREPARER MARTHA SHELTON!
Volunteering with VITA started for me in the Fall of 2005, when I stumbled upon a Craigslist posting which sought people "with an interest in helping lower income communities receive tax refunds.” As a newcomer to New York with a background in Finance, this seemed the perfect opportunity to join the community in a constructive manner as well as put my professional skills-set to work. (In my work as an analyst at an investment bank, attention to detail is crucial, an attribute which carries over to tax preparation quite nicely). Most importantly, the people served by VITA are so grateful for the free service they receive. Every year I find myself humbled by the hard-working, entrepreneurial families who do the most they can with the resources they have, which in turn motivates me to provide the highest quality tax preparation services to them. This has been a very satisfying volunteer experience for me over the past four tax seasons. Additionally, through VITA I have built lasting relationships with other staff members and volunteers that helped me feel as if I were “at home” here in New York. Aside from professional and volunteer commitments, I occupy my time by training for triathlons (Olympic and Half Ironman distance events) and scoring weekend races for the New York Road Runners. Martha V. Shelton is a CFA charterholder who holds undergraduate degrees in Finance and Economics from The University of Texas at Austin.
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