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Volunteer Opportunities

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is an IRS-sponsored program brought to the North Penn and Indian Valley communities through a partnership between the North Penn United Way and the Greater North Penn Collaborative for Health and Human Services. The VITA program pairs community volunteers with low to moderate income individuals and families in the area--families that cannot afford to lose part of their refund to tax preparation fees or refund anticipation loan interest. These individuals and families may also be eligible for major tax credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (which can return up to $5,666 to a family with three qualifying children this tax season), and not know it. This can be a life-changing tax credit, but no family can claim it if they don't know about it. That's where VITA volunteers step in.

YOU can be an indispensable part of the impact this year.

Just last year, volunteers helped return $535,000 to individuals and families in the North Penn and Indian Valley communities. Just under $3.5 million dollars was brought back to the Montgomery County last year thanks to VITA volunteer efforts.

We can't do this without you.

We are currently looking for volunteers to fill the follow positions. Perhaps you are interested in being a tax preparer, but that's not the only way you can be involved:

Site Coordinators These volunteers are tasked with overseeing their VITA site. Site Coordinators are responsible for ensuring that all patrons receive quality, free services and that all procedures are being followed correctly. They should be friendly, organized and comfortable dealing with volunteers, stakeholders, partners and the public in a helpful and supportive manner. Site coordinators will also be trained and IRS-certified.

Interpreters Korean- and Spanish-speaking individuals.

Tax Preparers Volunteer Tax Preparers become IRS-certified to complete personal income tax returns for VITA clients. No experience necessary! Free training provided--it is self-paced and can be completed online.

Quality Reviewers Quality Reviewers become IRS-certified to complete and review personal income tax returns for VITA clients. These volunteers must be organized, have a great attention to detail and should have prior tax preparation experience either through VITA or work experience.

Greeters & Screeners These volunteers are responsible for surveying each taxpayer to ensure that they have proper documentation required to complete their tax return. Greeters & Screeners should be friendly and have the ability to communicate well with others.

Budget Coaches Budget Coaches offer VITA clients information on how to build a budget, money management and how to utilize other financial resources in the community. Free training is provided.

If you think one of these positions sounds like something you would enjoy, please consider volunteering for one 4-hour session per week during this 13-week tax season (January-April 2011). No previous math or accounting experience is necessary and all training will be provided. Liability coverage under the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 will apply.

For more information or to volunteer, send an email to Christa, c.detweiler@volunteermontco.org, or call 215-855-3319.

Play a part in improving the financial stability of families and increasing awareness of resources in your community! You can make a real difference this tax season.

North Penn United Way at the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Expo

Christa, Inger, Cyndi, Amita, Kim, and I sat at the North Penn United Way's table at this 14th annual business expo on October 7th from 12 PM-6:30 PM at the Indian Valley Country Club. The theme of the expo was "Forty and Fabulous...Celebrating the Voice of Business in the Indian Valley," and we, like many other organizations represented, chose to decorate like we would for a birthday party. Please see the photo of the blow-up birthday cupcake, which made us feel very festive.

We gave away a jar of Hershey kisses and a Live United t-shirt to the person who guessed closest to the number of kisses the jar contained. Thanks to all who participated!

Invitations and registration forms were available at the table for our big upcoming event, the "Creating Focus for Community Change" summit scheduled for Wednesday, November 10th. See Christa's post titled "You're Invited" to see what this summit is all about, and call us at 215-855-3002 to reserve your spot.

We also provided expo attendees with information about volunteer opportunities through the North Montco Volunteer Center and the North Penn United Way. There are many, many ways to get involved in the community by volunteering! Visit our website, http://www.npuw.org/, or call us at 215-855-3002 to find out more.

10 Things We'd Like to Share

1. The North Penn United Way services the towns in the North Penn and Souderton Area School Districts. Like all United Ways, we are independently incorporated and are governed by a board of directors composed of volunteers, many of whom are local business leaders in our community.
2. We’re not your mother and father’s United Way. We’re transitioning to a Community Impact model, focusing on building relationships and working to improve the Education, Income and Health for all members of our community!
3. The North Penn United Way does in fact fund the Boy Scouts - Cradle of Liberty Council and the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. We do not fund Planned Parenthood. Because each United Way is independently incorporated and governed, this may not be the case for every United Way across the country.
4. Money raised during our annual workplace campaigns goes back out to the community. For every $1 invested, $41 is returned to our local community in the form of programming and support services. Our Community Impact investments have been steadily increasing for the past four years, and our intent is to continue to focus financial and volunteer resources in our community’s most pressing areas.
5. Our office is composed of five full-time employees, 1 part-time employee and 2 AmeriCorps VISTA members. We’re situated in Hatfield Township, upstairs from the Harleysville Savings Bank Branch on Cowpath Road.
6. Helping our neighbors in need is not as easy as solving one problem. Each problem people face can lead to others, causing a ripple effect throughout kin and community. That’s why in these tough times our community counts on United Way because of the safety net of services we help support. By assisting more than 30 local programs and services, the chances are good that when someone is in need they are getting help from a United Way supported agency.
7. A little bit about what we do. We help fund: literacy programs for children, before and after school childcare programs, Meals on Wheels, cancer support groups, food pantries, counseling for teens with behavioral issues, therapeutic horseback riding lessons, occupational therapy for the disabled and emergency food and shelter programs.
8. In the past three years, we’ve implemented Stuff the Bus, collecting over a thousand backpacks for low income elementary school students, a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and opened the North Montco Volunteer Center. We’re really just getting started!
9. We are open and transparent. More than 750 local volunteers partner with us in every aspect of our work. This includes deciding how campaign funds should be allocated. Our 990 is available on our website, and United Way of America has earned a three-star rating from Charity Navigator for effectiveness and responsibility.
10. Being an advocate doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to take part in a political campaign or a rally. Simply put, you can be an advocate by standing up for others and what you believe in. You can help champion a cause, or simply tell your neighbor why it’s important to support United Way. Anyone can do it. Whether you’re talking to your coworker about organizing a food drive, or attending a town hall meeting about after-school programs for kids, you can improve life in the North Penn and Indian Valley communities. Speak up and advocate for the things you care about!