Intern Insights: Making an Impact with CWF’s VITA Program By: Sarah Delgado Campaign for Working Families (CWF) VITA’s mission is to reduce the financial burden of tax preparation for middle to low-income families. Its goal is to provide underserved communities with access to essential resources. This program has helped thousands of families across the #Philadelphia area, with the support of our most dedicated and caring staff. The Campaign for Working Families aims to fight systemic economic inequities by connecting underserved communities with critical resources like free income tax preparation, public benefits assistance, and tax training. It also educates taxpayers through its financial wellness workshops. The organization has served many disadvantaged groups, including individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, immigrants, and people with disabilities. CWF is proud to announce that its VITA program has processed refunds totaling more than $32 million in 2023. Through the shared effort of our hard-working IRS-certified staff and volunteers, CWF generated over 40,000 returns. Half of which income grossed under $20,000 a year. Throughout my experience as an intern for CWF, I found great satisfaction in assisting taxpayers with their refunds. This opportunity developed my expertise in tax preparation in a hands-on approach within a professional setting. Participating in this program not only provided me with valuable skills but also allowed me to connect with and serve my community. I was able to be a part of a caring and supportive organization working to support the financial wellness of underserved communities. I gained valuable experience in connecting eligible low-income taxpayers with resources such as the PA Property Tax or Renters Rebate, Earned Income Credit, and tax forgiveness credit. We provide additional support to educate taxpayers on how to prevent future tax liability. Our services also extend to helping #taxpayers access public benefit services if needed. My time at Campaign for Working Families has been a rewarding experience. If you are interested in making an impact in your community, I recommend you become a Volunteer Tax Preparer in 2025. Volunteers receive free training from CWF to earn their #IRS VITA certification, an industry-recognized credential. I encourage you to get involved in your community and help reach out to anyone you know who may benefit from our free services. This is your chance to gain valuable insights and resources into all that CWF has to offer! More information: Tax-site locations- cwfphilly.org/tax-site/ Volunteer- cwfphilly.org/volunteer/ Contact information: 215-454-6483, [email protected] #cwfphilly #taxrefund #freetaxprep #GivingBack #CommunitySupport