AARP AND UNITED WAY OFFER
TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE

It may seem like it's a long way off, but April will soon be here and your income tax return will be due.

Starting on February 2, specially trained AARP volunteers will be providing free assistance to taxpayers filing their annual income tax returns at eight locations throughout Gloucester County. Thanks to grants secured by the United Way, each site offers free online filing to reduce processing time and expedite payment of any refunds.

This is the third year of the AARP/United Way tax help partnership. In 2011, more than 800 local taxpayers saved nearly $120,000 in filing fees.

Local residents with low and moderate household incomes are invited to schedule tax assistance appointments at one of the eight AARP/United Way tax help sites located throughout the county. All sites have different schedules and appointments are mandatory. No walk-ins will be accepted at any facility. (click for the site list).

AARP volunteers participate in an extensive training program and are required to pass the Internal Revenue Service’s certification test.

 

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United Way's Seventh Annual
Food Drive Scheduled
February 20-24, 2012

The sustained high rate of local unemployment works a hardship on many local families. Because of cuts in federal and state budgets for emergency food and heating assistance, local agencies are hard pressed to respond to the large number of requests for help they receive.  Local food pantries continue to serve an ever-growing number of families who are experiencing food insecurity and the post-holiday season is when food donations are at an all-time low.

In an effort to address this problem, the United Way of Gloucester County has partnered with the People for People Foundation and the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders Human Service Advisory Council to sponsor the seventh annual Gloucester County Cares About Hunger Food Drive.  This collection, held the week of February 20-24, 2012, will support local food pantries and congregate meal programs.

Last year, 78 participants, at 130 locations – including 19 new sites - donated 15,973 pounds of non-perishable food for distributed by food subsidy programs serving Gloucester County residents.

Preferred items include: canned tuna, salmon, ham and corned beef; all types of dried and cooked cereal; canned 100% fruit juices; canned, powdered and shelf-stable diary products; all types of canned soups, stews, chili, fruits and vegetables; rice, pastas and spaghetti in one-pound boxes; elbow macaroni and macaroni and cheese dinners; pancake and pudding mixes and protein products, such as peanut butter, jellies, jams and dried beans.

Again this year, through an arrangement with the Gloucester County Animal Shelter, donations of wet (canned) pet food only will also be accepted. Last year nearly 565 pounds of pet food was donated for distribution to low and fixed-income families.

This year, the United Way of Gloucester County will also accept cash donations and forward them to the Food Bank of South Jersey to support its bulk food purchasing program.

"Our colleagues at the Food Bank tell us that, while they are grateful for the donations of non-perishable food, they can multiply the value of cash donations in securing food supplies for local food pantries,” reported Jere Hoffner, United Way executive director. “Monetary support also allows the Food Bank to purchase exactly the items needed to provide balanced, nutritional supplies to families in need,” Hoffner added.

Employers or employee groups interested in participating are asked to contact Donna Fanticola at the United Way of Gloucester County at (856) 845 4303 x 13. Individuals who wish to make food donations can bring the items to the United Way office at 454 Crown Point Road in Thorofare, NJ on Friday, February 24 between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

For additional information about the Food Drive or United Way initiatives email Donna Fanticola at donnafanticola@uwgcnj.org.

 

WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL ANNOUNCES GRANTS

The United Way of Gloucester County’s Women’s Leadership Council has awarded grants to three local organizations to advance its mission of empowering women.

The Center for People in Transition received a $4,200 grant to provide single women with comprehensive career counseling to assist them in making realistic and achievable decisions regarding their employment options. The funds will also be help pay for education and training that leads to employment.

A $5,000 grant to the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern NJ will support an effort to  increase financial literacy skills for fifty girls in sixth through twelth grades. The program will include age appropriate workshops about personal spending, financial goal setting, budgeting, saving, credit, interest, and understanding loans.

The group also awarded a grant of $4,500 to the Alice Paul Institute to sponsor “Lead-A-Way” workshops. The program includes ten sessions focusing on women leaders and leadership skills.  Approximately twenty-five eighth grade girls will explore basic leadership skills and learn about different women’s role models. Participants will learn creative thinking, organization and time management, cooperative group dynamic, public speaking, interpersonal communication, positive conflict resolution and assertiveness. 

Organized in 2008, the Women’s Leadership Council was created to provide women in Gloucester County with the opportunity to assist others in reaching their fullest potential.

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THE 2012 "THANKS FOR GIVING" CARD

The new list of participating merchants for the 2012 "Thanks for Giving" Card is now up! Click here for the list, which will be updated throughout the year as additional merchants sign up for the program. For additional information on the 2012 Thanks For Giving Card, please contact TINA GRANT, Director of Agency & Donor Relations here at the United Way office, at 856-845-4303 x12 or email at tinagrant@uwgcnj.org.