December 2, 2024 Just Harvest: Barriers to Benefits Just Harvest will release and present its new report on SNAP benefits on Dec. 5 in Pittsburgh. Learn More Just Harvest will present “Barriers to Benefits: The New State of SNAP Access in Pennsylvania” to Dr. Val Arkoosh, the state’s secretary of Human Services, and community partners. The report explores various barriers to SNAP, such as: Challenges receiving paperwork on time Difficulty communicating with the department Issues navigating the program’s requirements The event will center the experience of SNAP recipients as Just Harvest calls for improvements to state policies and practices. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 5 at CoLab18, located at 100 South Commons, Suite 100, in Pittsburgh. Those interested in attending should RSVP now.
November 26, 2024 Free Preparation for Volunteers Looking to Help This Tax Season Just Harvest is offering free preparation for volunteers who plan on helping this tax season. Learn More The coalition’s staff will provide 15 hours of free training and prepare volunteers for IRS certification. Ideally, volunteers would provide three to four hours per week from late January through mid-April. Volunteer greeters will welcome taxpayers and answer questions as well as help them to complete and organize paperwork. They will also learn how the process works and be ready to assist with three to four hours of training. In 2023, the Free Tax Prep Coalition of Southwest PA brought $11 million back into the pockets of people in the region. Since 2003, Just Harvest has completed nearly 49,000 tax returns and refunded roughly $92 million to low-income families. Volunteer sites are located in Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. Registration is open for those who want to volunteer. Any further questions should be addressed to Anna Woomer, Just Harvest’s free tax prep volunteer director, at annaw@justharvest.org.
December 28, 2021 Free Tax Return Preparation in Allegheny County The Free Tax Preparation Coalition (sponsored by United Way of Southwestern PA), which provides free income tax return preparation throughout the region, will begin taking appointments in January 2022. About the Free Tax Preparation Coalition Every year, Free Tax Preparation Coalition helps low-income households file their income tax return and maximize their tax refund. Many low-income people are eligible for tax credits and other refunds when they file their yearly tax return. For example, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty programs, and can increase a family’s annual income by as much as 45 percent. Virtual tax preparation and hybrid tax preparation options will be available to help families safely file their taxes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schedule an Appointment Appointments can be scheduled by calling 2-1-1 or by self scheduling on the 211 website starting in mid January. Virtual tax prep will also be available at GetYourRefund.org in late January. More details will be available soon on the Just Harvest website. Just Harvest is a leading member of the Free Tax Preparation Coalition. Volunteer Opportunities With the expanded tax credits in 2021, more families than ever will need access to free and reliable tax preparation. Volunteer shifts start at three hours per week. In-person and remote opportunities are available, and free tax training is provided to all volunteers. There is a need Spanish/English bilingual preparers to serve the area’s growing Hispanic population. There also are opportunities for volunteers to greet taxpayers as they arrive for their appointment and help to give them a positive experience. Visit Just Harvest’s volunteer registration website to view available volunteer shifts.
