Opportunities From: United Way of Greater Mercer County

Volunteer: Become a Tax Volunteer!

United Way of Greater Mercer County is seeking volunteers to join the tax prep team. The program provides families and individuals making less than $65,000/year with FREE tax return preparation.

Benefits to the Community
Last year's volunteers prepared over 1,000 free tax returns and provided total refunds of $1.3 million including Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) to working individuals and families as well as those who are 60 years of age and older in our community.

The average adjusted gross income of working individuals and families we serve is $26,000/year. Rising costs of food, housing, and essentials leave families struggling to make ends meet. The savings from tax preparation fees and refunds received are used for basic needs like:

- food
- housing
- healthcare
- childcare
- transportation to their place of employment
- and much more!


To qualify for Federal resources like food assistance (including school lunch and breakfast), health insurance (including Medicaid), college financial aid, and other programs proof of income is required. As a result, tax return filing is crucial to the financial success of many families and individuals. Be a part of this vital resource to increase financial security for struggling families in Mercer County!

Benefits of Volunteering
- Impact your community
- Gain practical experience
 - No prior tax experience is required
- Various roles are available
      - Tax Preparer: train to prepare and review tax returns
      - Greeter: confirm if individuals have all of the documents needed for filing and assist individuals in              filling out an initial intake form (will not be preparing tax returns)
      - Site Coordinator: review tax returns and manage tax site
      - Translator: translate for Spanish-speaking clients
- Become IRS Certified
- Flexible volunteer hours (3-4 hour blocks)
- College students can earn course credits and build up their resumes
- Tax professionals can earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits
- Must be at least 16 years old to volunteer (Rising High School Junior/Seniors)

Interested in becoming a tax volunteer?
Volunteers are needed from February 1-April 15, 2025. Free IRS training begins in the Fall of 2024 and test certification is required by January 15, 2025. Tax sites are located throughout Mercer County (exact locations TBD).

Fill out form: https://uwgmc.org/taxvolunteer

Organization: United Way of Greater Mercer County

United Way of Greater Mercer County is seeking volunteers to join the tax prep team. The program provides families and individuals making less than $65,000/year with FREE tax return preparation.

Benefits to the Community
Last year's volunteers prepared over 1,000 free tax returns and provided total refunds of $1.3 million including Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) to working individuals and families as well as those who are 60 years of age and older in our community.

The average adjusted gross income of working individuals and families we serve is $26,000/year. Rising costs of food, housing, and essentials leave families struggling to make ends meet. The savings from tax preparation fees and refunds received are used for basic needs like:

- food
- housing
- healthcare
- childcare
- transportation to their place of employment
- and much more!


To qualify for Federal resources like food assistance (including school lunch and breakfast), health insurance (including Medicaid), college financial aid, and other programs proof of income is required. As a result, tax return filing is crucial to the financial success of many families and individuals. Be a part of this vital resource to increase financial security for struggling families in Mercer County!

Benefits of Volunteering
- Impact your community
- Gain practical experience
 - No prior tax experience is required
- Various roles are available
      - Tax Preparer: train to prepare and review tax returns
      - Greeter: confirm if individuals have all of the documents needed for filing and assist individuals in              filling out an initial intake form (will not be preparing tax returns)
      - Site Coordinator: review tax returns and manage tax site
      - Translator: translate for Spanish-speaking clients
- Become IRS Certified
- Flexible volunteer hours (3-4 hour blocks)
- College students can earn course credits and build up their resumes
- Tax professionals can earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits
- Must be at least 16 years old to volunteer (Rising High School Junior/Seniors)

Interested in becoming a tax volunteer?
Volunteers are needed from February 1-April 15, 2025. Free IRS training begins in the Fall of 2024 and test certification is required by January 15, 2025. Tax sites are located throughout Mercer County (exact locations TBD).

Fill out form: https://uwgmc.org/taxvolunteer

Organization: United Way of Greater Mercer County

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 08619

Allow Groups: No

Volunteer: Virtual Reading: Record Story Time for Youth

Many area youths do not have access to books when they can’t go to school or the library. Help bring literature to them by reading a book and submitting a virtual storytime to us! 

We will be posting the videos on YouTube and area youth will have access to those recordings. To complete this project, you only need an age-appropriate book from Kindergarten-5th Grade and a way to record video (phone, computer, or another recording device).

You can read in other languages as well. When you send us the video please indicate which language it is. 

*5 story limit per reader*

Please watch the video below on how to submit your video. 

Click here to check out a list of recommended books Click to view our storytime playlist

Keep these tips in mind when you make your video:

Speak loud and clear Choose a quiet space- avoid background noise The camera should be in landscape (horizontal) mode (depending on device) Clean your camera lens Be in the best light you can be either in natural light or with the light facing you Record from the waist up Don’t zoom the camera in because it can create pixilation Put your phone in airplane mode to avoid sounds/notifications while recording

Please send your final video via email to jessica.figueroa@uwgmc.org. See the instructions below on how to submit your video.

From your Android Phone/Google Photos:

Click on the recorded Video, Click “Share”; then click “Create Link”, [Link will be copied] Click on “Mail” [Link should automatically get pasted in the body of the email] Send to Jessica.Figueroa@uwgmc.org Subject Line: “Storytime: Title of Book”

From your Apple/iPhone:

Click on the recorded Video, Click “Share”; then click “Create Link”, Click on “Mail” [Link should automatically get pasted in the body of the email] Send to Jessica.Figueroa@uwgmc.org Subject Line: “Storytime: Title of Book”

From Macbook:

AirDrop to your iPhone then follow the instructions above

From OneDrive:

Upload Video to OneDrive, Click on the recorded Video, Right Click “Share”; then “Copy Link”, Click “Copy” Compose a new email [Paste link in the body of the email] Send to Jessica.Figueroa@uwgmc.org Subject Line: “Storytime: Title of Book”

Via Dropbox:

Upload Video to Dropbox, Click on the recorded Video, Click “Share”; then “Click Create then Copy Link”, Click “Copy Link” Compose a new email [Paste link in the body of the email] Send to Jessica.Figueroa@uwgmc.org Subject Line: “Storytime: Title of Book”

Your video will be reviewed and added to a playlist that children will be able to access and enjoy. Thank you for being a reader to area youth!

Organization: United Way of Greater Mercer County

Many area youths do not have access to books when they can’t go to school or the library. Help bring literature to them by reading a book and submitting a virtual storytime to us! 

We will be posting the videos on YouTube and area youth will have access to those recordings. To complete this project, you only need an age-appropriate book from Kindergarten-5th Grade and a way to record video (phone, computer, or another recording device).

You can read in other languages as well. When you send us the video please indicate which language it is. 

*5 story limit per reader*

Please watch the video below on how to submit your video. 

Click here to check out a list of recommended books Click to view our storytime playlist

Keep these tips in mind when you make your video:

Speak loud and clear Choose a quiet space- avoid background noise The camera should be in landscape (horizontal) mode (depending on device) Clean your camera lens Be in the best light you can be either in natural light or with the light facing you Record from the waist up Don’t zoom the camera in because it can create pixilation Put your phone in airplane mode to avoid sounds/notifications while recording

Please send your final video via email to jessica.figueroa@uwgmc.org. See the instructions below on how to submit your video.

From your Android Phone/Google Photos:

Click on the recorded Video, Click “Share”; then click “Create Link”, [Link will be copied] Click on “Mail” [Link should automatically get pasted in the body of the email] Send to Jessica.Figueroa@uwgmc.org Subject Line: “Storytime: Title of Book”

From your Apple/iPhone:

Click on the recorded Video, Click “Share”; then click “Create Link”, Click on “Mail” [Link should automatically get pasted in the body of the email] Send to Jessica.Figueroa@uwgmc.org Subject Line: “Storytime: Title of Book”

From Macbook:

AirDrop to your iPhone then follow the instructions above

From OneDrive:

Upload Video to OneDrive, Click on the recorded Video, Right Click “Share”; then “Copy Link”, Click “Copy” Compose a new email [Paste link in the body of the email] Send to Jessica.Figueroa@uwgmc.org Subject Line: “Storytime: Title of Book”

Via Dropbox:

Upload Video to Dropbox, Click on the recorded Video, Click “Share”; then “Click Create then Copy Link”, Click “Copy Link” Compose a new email [Paste link in the body of the email] Send to Jessica.Figueroa@uwgmc.org Subject Line: “Storytime: Title of Book”

Your video will be reviewed and added to a playlist that children will be able to access and enjoy. Thank you for being a reader to area youth!

Organization: United Way of Greater Mercer County

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Allow Groups: No