United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades looking for volunteers for income tax assistance program

If you’re looking for an opportunity to give back, United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades is looking for volunteers to help out during the upcoming tax season.

“This is a volunteer driven program and we need volunteers,” said Mary Meador, volunteer engagement and Volunteer Income Tax program manager with United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades. “Volunteers are trained and certified through an IRS program to do simple tax returns for families who make less than $66,000 a year.”

Meador said there aren’t any special requirements to volunteer. 

In case you missed it:Fort Myers cost of living, playing going up after budget decisions

And:Gem Next Door: Fort Myers entrepreneur, healthcare provider brings the clinic to the people

“You don't have to have any experience at all to do this program,” said Meador. “There's no age requirement. We have a couple of high school students, retirees, stay at home moms, anybody who wants to help can help. We have in person training classes and online because everyone's schedule is different. Last year we had 170 volunteers. To really grow the program we need 200 volunteers to be able to help more people.”

The United Way is looking for tax preparers, interpreters and site coordinators to help out January through April in Lee, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte counties. A few of the benefits include flexible hours, free tax law and e-filing training, no liability to prepare taxes (sites are IRS approved), earning community service hours and learning a life-long skill. 

“Our United Way has been running the program since 2008,” said Meador. Our focus is the lower income working families who qualify for that earned income tax credit. Which is how our country came up with this program, to help boost people out of poverty. The only way to get the credit though, is you have to work and file a tax return. And there are millions and millions of people every year who don’t file their tax return even though they qualify for this credit. 

“So they're leaving billions of dollars on the table, which is money that's designed to boost them out of poverty. So that's how the program came around. And of course, taxes are overwhelming and scary for a lot of people. You shouldn't have to pay someone to do your taxes. We help them save their hard earned dollars to be used for food, rent, groceries and medical expenses.”

Faithful United Way volunteer Stephanie Figueroa said the opportunity to give back keeps her coming back every year for the past three years.

“I get to give back to my community and my community is Lehigh acres, I've lived here for 21 years,” said 49-year-old-Figueroa. “It's an amazing place. We have a lot of amazing people here.”

Figueroa said volunteering for the Volunteer Income Tax program (VITA) provided a number of benefits.

 “The certification process that we go through is intellectually challenging,” said Figueroa. “If you're up for a challenge and you want to give back it’s a win-win. I have a bachelor's in business administration. I worked in human resources at the executive level for almost 20 years. I took time off about five years ago to finish raising my kids. I didn't know what my career path was going to be after my kids became young adults, which they are now. I just really didn't know. So I decided to do something intellectually challenging.”

Spanish and Creole speaking volunteers are especially needed.

For more information visit https://unitedwaylee.org/vita-volunteer/ or contact Meador at 239-433-7206 or email marym@unitedwaylee.org. 

Erica Van Buren is the underserved communities reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on Twitter: @EricaVanBuren32