Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange (GRACE) is in urgent need of volunteers for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Tax Preparers, Intake Specialists and Interpreters are critically needed. All VITA Tax Preparers, including CPAs and financial professionals will receive ample training on-site or online to become VITA certified.
Tax Preparers are vital to this operation, and will assist families with simple tax returns. Intake Specialists are needed to greet families, ensure they have the necessary documents and explain the VITA packet. Intake Specialists will attend a one-hour training session. Interpreters are also needed.
Last year, VITA volunteers prepared 5,198 returns, helping families receive over $4 million in earned income tax credit. This effort supports GRACE's mission to restore financial stability for families by helping them accrue a healthy savings account.
No prior qualification is required to be a VITA volunteer. United Way offers on-site training and lunch to groups of employees who would like to volunteer. Volunteers will not be liable for accounting errors, and a staff person will be present at all times.
Tax season begins Jan. 18 and runs through the first week of March. Volunteers are asked to participate in at least one four-hour shift per week for at least the first weeks of VITA. These weekly shifts include: Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
If you are interested in participating or would like details, email lsundell@gracegrapevine.org or call 817.305.4653 ext. 119 for Lara Sundell.
GRACE is a Grapevine, Texas based non-profit relief agency that provides food, clothing, financial assistance, and other vital necessities to people who are struggling with a limited income or recent emergency.