Volunteers Save Families $200 Each on Free Tax Help

When Nadina Pupic and her team of volunteers set up at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in late March, they expected to help about 15 families with their taxes. By week's end, they'd completed 43 returns for free.

The United Way of Central Shenandoah Valley runs this free tax preparation service through the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Trained volunteers prepare returns at no cost for households earning $68,000 or less, saving each family between $200 and $250 in typical preparation fees.

Since January, the volunteers have completed 202 tax returns across Staunton and Waynesboro. That adds up to over $40,000 saved and kept in the local economy.

Pupic, the United Way's director of programs, trains community members to become certified tax preparers each year. The local chapter received $18,000 from a nearly half-million-dollar VITA grant to make the service possible.

The program welcomes walk-ins at scheduled events, but families who can't make those times can call 540-705-0100 to arrange individual appointments. The final sessions run through early April at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Staunton and the Rosenwald Community Center in Waynesboro.

The Ripple Effect

This program does more than save individual families money. When households keep an extra $200 or $250, that cash flows back into local businesses, groceries, and school supplies. Multiply that across 202 families, and the community benefit becomes substantial.

The United Way hopes to extend tax support year-round beyond the traditional April deadline. Pupic encourages anyone who misses the April sessions to still reach out for help.

The program runs entirely on volunteer power and community support, turning trained neighbors into trusted financial helpers when families need it most.