by Ashley Hillman
Community Collaborations Director
What do Kearns High School, Redwood Recreation Center, Northwest Community Center, and the Central City Recreation Center have in common? They’re all Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites that offer FREE tax preparation for hard working households with incomes less than $57,000!
I had the opportunity to visit the NEW Kearns High School VITA site a few nights ago and chat with some of the volunteers and individuals receiving tax assistance. The room was full and to my surprise, everyone was in great spirits, despite being gathered together for this common reason: taxes! Volunteers were happy to assist their neighbors, and individuals receiving refunds were excited to share their plans with me.
One lady receiving tax assistance is planning a cross-country trip to visit her siblings who live as far away as Ohio. She was planning to purchase her plane ticket after receiving her refund. Another gentleman was anxious to continue supporting his grandchildren who obviously brighten his life. His eyes lit up as he spoke about each child.
Most everyone I spoke with last night had heard about the new VITA site at Kearns High School through UWSL’s 2-1-1 Call Center. If you are looking for tax assistance this season and want to work with friendly, knowledgeable VITA volunteers, you can also call 2-1-1 to find a site near you. You may need to make an appointment, but some sites are walk-in. Please visit www.utahtaxhelp.org for a list of VITA sites (appointment and walk-in)! Thanks to Community Action Partnership of Utah for helping make the new Kearns site a success!
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