Looking to make a real difference in your community and flex those organizational muscles? The Montgomery County Community Action Agency's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program wants you. As tax season looms from January to mid-April, VITA is on the hunt for volunteers to help with myriad tasks, from IRS-certified tax prep to simply scheduling appointments, according to an announcement on the Montgomery County Government website.
There's a special call for volunteers who can keep their cool on the phones, guiding residents through the maze of tax scheduling without breaking a sweat, setting up appointments using an online system to make life a little easier for those who need it most, including ITIN holders earning $69,000 annually or less. Last season, volunteers poured 3,140 hours into helping 2,397 households achieve an impressive $7.8 million in tax savings and refunds, a feat that speaks to the massive impact of giving just a little time.
This season, there's a place for all - whether you're a whiz with numbers or a high school student hoping to snag some Student Service Learning (SSL) hours by working as a greeter or scheduler. County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized the importance of the program in a statement, saying, per the Montgomery County Government website, "There are many families in our County who are working hard but still struggling to make ends meet," and that "Volunteering with VITA is a meaningful way to give back and strengthen our community." The program prides itself on flexibility, offering varied hours and locations, and with Montgomery's diverse demographics, multilingual volunteers, especially those fluent in Spanish, are greatly appreciated.
