VITA Celebrates the End of the Tax Season
 The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program wrapped up the 2022 tax filing season with 56 volunteers providing 2,820 hours of service assisting 1,946 low and moderate income households. Thus far in Fiscal Year 2023 (since July 2022), the total tax refunds and credits claimed by families served by Community Action's VITA program add up to $6,376,361. Including the average cash value that the free tax filing services replace, VITA's impact for this year was $6,929,025. The tax credits include $2,372,924 of federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits and the Working Families Income Supplement--Montgomery County's match of the state EITC--as well as $756,099 in Child Tax Credits.
"People paid tuition, they paid their mortgage, they caught up on bills," Taunya Johnson, VITA Program Specialist said. "The program makes a big difference."
Congratulations to the VITA team for finishing the tax season strong. On April 21 in Rockville, many volunteers celebrated the end of the season, as pictured above and below. Betty Lam, Chief of the Office of Community Affairs (above on the far left) joined in the April 21 celebration.
“Thank you to Taunya Johnson and Eduardo (Eddie) Mendes, who oversee the Community Action VITA program. Their coordination of this largescale program ensured that everything ran smoothly, volunteers were trained, and clients received exceptional service," Ms. Lam said.
|
"Thank you to Lorena Jarrin, who oversees the front desk, ensuring coverage throughout the tax season and training schedulers. Thank you to Jessica Huitz, who supports scheduling for the VITA program, and to Josue Canas, who assists with technology needs and scheduling. Thank you to Community Action Agency brokers, Benoit Codija, Sharron Holquin and Maria Castillo, who provided invaluable support to VITA throughout the season.”
“VITA provides a critical service for County residents, ensuring that lower income families and individuals receive all of the tax credits and refunds for which they are eligible. Research has shown the incredible positive impact of Earned Income and Child Tax Credits on health, educational outcomes, and long-term financial wellbeing,” Ms. Lam said.
“To all of the volunteers, thank you for offering your time to support VITA and so many in our community. You have made a tremendous impact in your clients’ lives and we appreciate your commitment to this important program.”
Starting June 13, the VITA team will begin working on back-year taxes (2022, 2021, and 2020) and amendments. Appointments will be available Tuesday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., at 1401 Rockville Pike, on the third floor. Appointment scheduling will begin on May 15. Please call 240-777-1123 or visit montgomerycountymd.gov/CASHBACK.
 On April 14, TESS staff led Long Branch area seniors on a tour of the Long Branch Library and the Long Branch Senior Center. Twelve seniors started at the Long Branch Library where Febe Huezo, of Montgomery County Public Libraries outreach staff, led a tour of the newly refurbished facilities. While at the library, Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center staff assisted seniors in submitting applications for library cards.
From the library, the seniors proceeded to the Long Branch Senior Center, where five more seniors joined the group. Diana Ruiz, the Villages Outreach Coordinator in Aging and Disability Services, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and Mary Peltz of Long Branch Senior Center joined the seventeen TESS seniors for lunch at the center.
TESS staff Maria Quiroga and Victoria Hall noted that the seniors enjoyed the tours, the lunch, “and also sang, danced, and laughed a lot!”
|
 On Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Head Start program will host a “Party in the Park” at Wheaton Regional Park. In collaboration with HOC Fatherhood Initiative, we will have a fun-filled day of wellness activities for fathers, children and other family members. Pre-kindergarten/Head Start registration will be available on-site.
Pre-kindergarten and Head Start eligibility is based on family income. The registration process for both Head Start and Pre-kindergarten is the same.
Head Start/Pre-K registration fliers are available in: English, Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese.
Fliers in English and Spanish direct parents and guardians to one link if they are new to MCPS, and another if they already have a child attending MCPS.
Applications are accepted online via https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and in-person at Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00p.m.
Do you have questions about Head Start? Check out the Common Questions online.
 As the Community Advocacy Institute (CAI) wraps up, participants were required to complete an advocacy project. To meet this requirement, nine participants testified in English and Spanish at County Council budget hearings this month and many more submitted written testimony. Topics covered a wide range of issues impacting residents, including the need for more mental health services, before and after school programs, employment services for undocumented residents, and rent stabilization. The Community Action Board congratulates all 21 CAI participants who have successfully completed the program and will graduate next month!
The CAI is in its seventh year as a free advocacy training program led by the Community Action Board, and its second year as a fully bilingual program in English and Spanish. Above, left to right, Evelyn Hoey, Nubia Ladino, and Mabel Lozano gather outside the County Council offices. Below, Robyn Olivo provides her testimony.
On April 11, Community Action Board Chair Dr. Jeffery Johnson testified on behalf of the board at the County Council budget hearing. The board’s testimony focused on the staffing needs of the agency, along with early care and education services and the County’s Working Families Income Supplement. Read the board’s full testimony: Testimony38-JefferyJohnson-DHHS.pdf (montgomerycountymd.gov).
Community Action Partner Spotlight: MCAP Conference, Office of Procurement & Office of Grants Management
 The Maryland Community Action Partnership
will hold its annual conference in Bethesda, May 2 – 5. The theme this year is Redefining Possibilities: Strengthening Families & Communities. Find out more about how to sponsor, exhibit, or register for the conference on the
MCAP website.
The Maryland Community Action Partnership, founded in 1986, brings together the nineteen Community Action Agencies serving low-income residents of Delaware, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. Find out more at
https://maryland-cap.org.
Community Action also reminds nonprofit contract partners to monitor the Office of Grants Management application platform (https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org) for new County grants opportunities. To follow opportunities from the Office of Procurement, nonprofits should be registered with the Central Vendor Registration System (https://mcipcc.net/main/homePage.php). Find out more from the Office of Procurement (https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pro/).
|
