VITA Centers Reveal Their Success
By Colleen Copple, CCDO Partnerships Coordinator
A Vita Center volunteer helps out a resident at the West Valley Community Center.
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A simple volunteer program that helps people file their tax returns has become a runaway success.
In partnership with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), CCDO opened 50 new Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Centers in Weed and Seed sites in 2005 to increase the number of low- to moderate-income families who claim Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) (for working families earning less than $37,263 per year) and Child Tax Credits. The 50 centers processed more than 11,000 tax returns worth more than $15 million in tax refunds and credits during the January–April 2006 tax season.
CCDO builds the capacity of Weed and Seed sites to offer VITA services by providing a networked computer lab in each site. The computer lab allows VITA Centers to process income tax returns electronically. More than half of the new sites processed 100 or more tax returns in this startup year.
Many VITA Center coordinators and volunteers worked hard to launch the new centers. Local and regional IRS offices provided software, training, and technical assistance to each of the new VITA Centers, which were instrumental to their success.
Two examples provide a picture of what successful VITA Centers look like and the level of commitment from staff and volunteers needed to produce results.
The Hamilton Heights Weed and Seed site in St. Louis, MO, partnering with the Friendly Temple Church, helped to complete more than 2,000 tax returns worth more than $2 million in tax refunds and EITC to Weed and Seed residents. The church provided this service as part of its community ministry. Five homes for senior citizens were provided with onsite help. In addition, residents were referred to other services when needed, including health, counseling, transportation, senior housing, youth development, and leadership development services. More than 45 volunteers donated over 2,600 hours of their time.
The Crown/Farnsworth Weed and Seed site in West Valley City, UT, partnered with the West Valley Assembly of God to operate a VITA Center in the church's West Valley Community Center (WVCC). In addition to its existing computer lab, WVCC partnered with American Express to obtain three laptop computers to provide mobile income tax preparation services for hard-to-reach or underserved populations (particularly Hispanic and immigrant communities). CCDO matched that donation. WVCC provided mobile VITA services at the Deaf Center, Job Corps, churches with large limited English proficiency populations, and nursing homes and homes for senior citizens. WVCC completed more than 625 tax returns and generated more than $500,000 in tax refunds, EITC, and Child Tax Credits for Weed and Seed residents.
For more information, contact:
Desmond Leong
Friendly Temple Church VITA Coordinator
314–612–4403
John Udseth
West Valley Community Center VITA Center
801–403–5330
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