Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
The mission of Catholic Charities San Antonio is to respond to the needs of the poor and vulnerable among us. We are committed to empowering individuals and families in our community and beyond with the goal of fostering independence. We administer several projects to assist people in need. One important project is the VITA Program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program).
Description:
In November 2001, Making Connections an initiative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) partnered with the City of San Antonio’s Department of Community Initiatives (DCI), United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc., Our Lady of the Lake Center for Women in Church and Society to establish the San Antonio Coalition for Family Economic Progress. The Coalition now includes local colleges’ universities, businesses and banking institutions.
As the record-breaking 2007, tax year ends, Catholic Charities and the San Antonio Coalition for Family Economic Progress (SACFEP) prepares for the upcoming 2008 tax season. The Coalition provides comprehensive tax preparation to working families and individuals to improve their economic success. The Coalition’s mission is to improve access to a full range of financial education, products and services to promote and sustain family and community wealth.
This year, the coalition is committed to providing quality services and products and to outreach to as many community members as possible. Our volunteer recruitment efforts are now beginning and WE NEED YOU! In order to meet our goal of preparing 40,000 tax returns in San Antonio, our outreach efforts will include canvassing designated neighborhoods and reaching individuals through presentations. We are in need of people who are willing to volunteer for these efforts. Furthermore, during tax time, we will need over 500 volunteers to help prepare taxes. Preparing taxes involves becoming trained and certified through our training centers around the city. Training begins in December and is available through January. Training and certification for tax preparation is free. We are in need of people who are willing to volunteer for this effort.
We currently have the following volunteer opportunities: volunteer tax preparers, volunteer greeter/clerical. As a volunteer tax preparer or a volunteer greeter/clerical you are needed from January through April 15th, we ask that each volunteer commit to 36 hours during the 13 week tax season. We now have volunteer opportunities open for our Speaker’s Bureau; these volunteers would give year round presentations at local business within the San Antonio community regarding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the VITA program.
Also, remember to inform your friends and family about these FREE services available throughout the tax season. Keep your W-2s and bring them to our free tax preparation sites open from late January through April 15, 2008. For information on where you can get your taxes prepared and e-filed for FREE, contact United Way’s helpline 211 or visit the City of San Antonio’s website at www.sanantonio.gov. Catholic Charities and the SACFEP coalition are excited for the new tax season and hope to rank on top in the nation!
The VITA program continues to expand each year. During the 2007 tax filing season, VITA participants operated 27 VITA sites located throughout the city and completed 35,000 returns, a 12% increase over the number of returns completed last year. More than $52,000,000 in refunds was returned to the San Antonio Community through local VITA locations.
Without the help of the individuals who participated in the VITA program, many whom return each tax-filing season, the Coalition could not continue to expand, touching an increasing number of San Antonio's lower income families and working individuals. We are always looking for new volunteers to join in our efforts of providing free tax preparation to the San Antonio Community.
For more information, please call Jennifer Praeger, Program Director at 210-222-2975 or by e-mail eitcoutreach@yahoo.com
History:
In 1941, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc., was established as the Catholic Welfare Board, functioning as a social service agency of the San Antonio Archdiocese. In 1965, the agency was incorporated in the state of Texas as a nonprofit organization, changing its name to Catholic Family and Children Services, Inc. In 1995, the agency became part of the Catholic Charities national social service system and changed to its current name.
Contact people:
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Jennifer Praeger, Volunteer Coordinator, (210) 222-2975, (email)
Uli Chapa, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, (210) 222-2975, (email) |
Office fax number: (210) 293-0799
Address:
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202 W. French PlaceSan Antonio, TX 78212(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.ccaosa.org
Directions:
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Catholic Charities of San Antonio is located two blocks north of San Antonio College (between San Pedro and North Main Ave.)
Nearest Bus Stop: #4, 2 minute walk |
| Last updated on February 18, 2009 |
