By Trina Bartlett, Eastern Region Director
For the sixth year in a row, volunteers in the Eastern Region provided free tax preparation services for low to moderate income families as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
During February, March and April, 14 community volunteers prepared a total of 195 federal and 203 state returns.
We can’t thank those volunteers enough!
Amanda Beam, Zin Cer, Mike Conk, Jill Creigh, Tom Deegan, Jim Dyer, Sheralynn Esguerra, Sharon Juarez, Sharon Harris, Robin Marlin, Mike McCarthy, Ni Sung, Cheryl Teller and Rich Wickman were dedicated, caring and helpful as they prepared return after return. Additionally, Rita Caufield and Richard Meir served as volunteer translators.
A purpose of the VITA program is to ensure qualifying families receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which was established to help those who work but have very low incomes. When the EITC credit exceeds the amount of taxes owed, qualifying individuals receive the credit in their refund. Tax clients served by Catholic Charities WV Eastern Region received more than $102,600 in EITC credits.
