Volunteers Honored at VITA Free Tax Prep Breakfast & Kick-Off

The Free Tax Prep Program Kick-off and Volunteer Recognition Breakfast was held on Saturday, February 15th at the Mount Vernon Career Center. Over 35 volunteers and stakeholder partners attended, receiving certificates of recognition for the countless hours they volunteered in the 2024 tax season. The awards were presented by Thom Kleiner, Executive Director, WPWDB; Leonard Townes, Westchester County DSS Commissioner; and Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard.

Also in attendance to honor the volunteers were Katrina Alexander, Westchester County DSS Deputy Commissioner; Karen D'Attore, Ossining Village Manager; Liz Feldman, Town of Ossining Supervisor; Chima Monday, Ossining Youth Bureau Director; Dr. Pauline Pearce, Mount Vernon High School Principal; and Jaime Larmon, Work Based Learning Teacher/Coordinator, Mount Vernon High School. Volunteer attendees included students who are participating in “service learning” from both the Mt. Vernon and Ossining school districts.

Westchester County DSS Commissioner Leonard Townes stated: “The VITA program is delivered through a collaboration of partners and volunteers who worked diligently to coordinate the day-to-day operations. We are so grateful to all the volunteers who commit their time year after year—it wouldn’t be possible without you. And thank you to VITA Program Director, Linda McKinzie-Daugherty and the career center staff who organized this event, as well as Rosa Ramirez of Honey Baked Ham, Hartsdale who catered the delicious breakfast this morning.”

Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said: “I’m so glad to have this team here in the City of Mount Vernon making professional tax prep services easily accessible to our residents and I thank the volunteers for doing the work they do. It’s hard to keep up with all the tax laws and its important to have a knowledgeable person prepare your tax return and get all the tax credits due. We also encourage residents to utilize the recently launched Mount Vernon Financial Empowerment Center here at the Mount Vernon Career Center, which provides residents of all income levels free, life-changing financial resources needed to build a stable financial future.”

Karen D'Attore, Village of Ossining Manager said: Because of our youth volunteers so many people in our community—including their own parents and grandparents—have received hundreds of thousands of dollars back in refunds. It’s because of the power of youth, who are way more powerful than they could ever realize, that our residents are able to receive free tax prep after school on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as all day Saturday. We are forever grateful for having such bright, ambitious young people to provide support.”

MVHS Alumnus Volunteer Jhordene Holgate said: “Thank you Mrs. Larmon for seeing the potential in us. We try our best all the time, and we appreciate you pushing us to do more.”

The VITA program is available at select locations throughout Westchester County, Rockland, and the Bronx through Tuesday, April 15. Residents can call 211 or 1-800-899-1479 to schedule an appointment at one of nine locations listed below. Tax prep help will take place in Rockland County at the Finkelstein Memorial Library, 24 Chestnut Street in Spring Valley.

The VITA program is delivered through a collaboration of partners who worked diligently to coordinate the day-to-day operations—2-1-1 Hudson Valley/United Way of Westchester and Putnam; the IRS; Westchester County Government; Westchester Community College, Valhalla; Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry and Bronx Campuses; Ossining High School; Ossining Youth Bureau; Westchester Jewish Community Services; the Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network, United Way of Rockland County, Volunteer NY! and the Finkelstein Memorial Library

Volunteer tax preparer and language translator assistance runs through April 15 and is available at the sites below. Call 211 or (800) 899-1479 to make an appointment at one of the VITA/Tax Assistance locations.

A complete list of the sites with the services offered as well as times can be found at this www.westchesterputnamonestop.com:

Free Tax Prep Locations

• White Plains Career Center, 120 Bloomingdale Road (2nd Floor), White Plains, NY

• Mercy University—Dobbs Ferry Campus,555 Broadway (Victory Hall, Room 100), Dobbs Ferry, NY

• Mercy University - Bronx Campus, 1200 Waters Place (1st Floor, Room 1344), Bronx, NY

• Mount Vernon Career Center, 130 Mount Vernon Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY

• Ossining Youth Bureau, Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY

• Ossining High School, 29 South Highland Avenue (Room 202), Ossining, NY

• Westchester Community College -- Gateway Center, Valhalla Campus, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, NY

• Westchester Jewish Community Services – 141 North Central Avenue, Hartsdale, NY

• UWRC/VNY! at Finkelstein Memorial Library, 24 Chestnut Street, Spring Valley, NY

Over the past 21 years, hundreds of people have volunteered their time and expertise to help low- and moderate-income individuals and families file their taxes for free, including people with disabilities, senior citizens, and those for whom English is a second language. To ensure the program delivers maximum benefits, VITA relies on dedicated volunteers to act as greeters, assist with language translation and call-center operations. Tax preparation is done by IRS-certified volunteers via electronic filing.

VITA is a national initiative sponsored by the IRS and the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to help low- and moderate-income residents qualify for federal and state earned income tax credits.

THE WESTCHESTER-PUTNAM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (WPWDB) is comprised of leaders and staff of state and county government agencies, non-profits, public education, and the private sector who work together to strengthen the partnerships between business, education, and service providers within the “Career Center Network” to meet the needs for a skilled workforce. The WPWDB pursues funding opportunities and develops model programs and leading-edge practices. The “Network” includes four Career Centers (White Plains, Mount Vernon, Peekskill, and Carmel) as well as partner agencies that provide state-of-the-art technology, training, resources, and services to youth, adults and employers. For more information, visit www.westchesterputnamonestop.com.