With tax season coming up soon, Northwest Indiana Community Action is looking to once again hold their Asset Building Campaign, a program aiming to help prepare and file taxes for low-income families. Jackie Frain with Pulaski County Human Services explained the program not only benefits the low-income families by helping them afford winter coats, pay utility bills and even save for homeownership, it also benefits the community as a whole.
“The program benefits the community by providing the tax assistance as part of Asset Building Campaign that Northwest Indiana Community Action provides with the IRS by a grant, and the service allows for folks to meet the income guidelines to get free tax service and, of course, that means that their dollars that they receive all come back in for them to spend, and that money, of course, we all know that every dollar spent in the community comes back to us,” said Frain.
Frain said this year is looking to be even more successful than last year, and NWICA has asked that they recruit a volunteer to assist with the program. She said they’re looking for someone computer-savvy, good with numbers and willing to volunteer for the program to help those who meet the guidelines to get free income tax preparation.
Frain said the goal is to assist as many people, particularly the elderly, to get the proper deductions and get their taxes filed. She said they’re excited to have the program again and look forward to another successful year.
“We’re very excited to have the program again,” said Frain. “Last year was a pilot for us, and we exceeded all their expectations. So this year they’ve asked us to help them even further in trying to recruit a volunteer to assist them because they anticipate having at least double the amount of families that they had last year.”
All volunteers will go through training and certification. For more information, call (219) 794-1829 or email lliuzzo@nwi-ca.org.
