Volunteers needed for tax help

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Western Maine CA$H is a community collaboration that helps working families in western Maine make the most of the money they have earned. This program provides IRS-trained volunteers to prepare tax returns at no cost for low and moderate income workers. In addition, community partners and volunteers help to provide education and linkage with opportunities to improve financial stability. This may include helping someone open a bank account, providing information on topics ranging from predatory lending to home ownership.

We’re looking for volunteers to help in all areas. The program will be at the University of Maine, Farmington campus. Training will be provided. The time commitment will include the training, 16-20 hours for tax preparation and 4 hours for other positions, and we ask that you then commit at least 16-24 hours of volunteering your time for the tax preparation, 8-12 for greeters and coaches. Many options are available for training including: online and at your own pace, books provided by the IRS, and classes given by IRS trained volunteers. The tax preparation program will run from late January through the end of March, 2009.

Volunteer positions include:

Greeters: Like to meet new people? Why not volunteer to welcome clients to our tax preparation site and ensure they have all of their paperwork needed?

Coaches: If you are a good listener and enjoy one-on-one coaching, you can help clients review their financial information and suggest other services that support financial stability and empowerment.

Tax Preparers: Enjoy working with numbers and computers? Work with filers to complete and file their tax forms.

Outreach: Help us spread the word about our services by hanging posters or distributing brochures at your work, church, child care, etc.

Last year our volunteers served 133 households with a total of $334,968 in total tax refunds and credits. Please think about joining us in this effort.

For more information contact: Janet Smith, Women, Work, and Community:
778-2757,  janet.smith@maine.edu

Western Maine CA$H members include the Internal Revenue Service, University of Maine at Farmington, Women, Work and Community, United Way, Casey Family Services, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Western Maine Community Action Program, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Healthy Community Coalition, , Community Concepts Franklin County Adult Education and Bangor Savings Bank.

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