NEWS

It’s only November, but we already are thinking ahead to tax season! During 2023, the Ada Jenkins Center hosted two program sites — Davidson and Huntersville — for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). VITA volunteers helped neighbors with incomes of $60,000 or less prepare their taxes for free. They prepared 309 tax returns for area families, with refunds totaling $287,774… an average return of $931 per family. We will be doing it all again, starting with training in January – and we need your help!  

• We need volunteer tax preparers, as well as smiling faces who can serve as greeters to simply welcome the clients visiting our VITA sites. (Great opportunity for older teens!)
• Many clients need transportation to/from their VITA appointments. If you can donate an Uber/Lyft gift card or two, that would help in a big way.
• We also would be grateful for donated grocery gift cards so we can offer coffee/snacks while clients are waiting for their appointments.
• And we would be so appreciative if you could help sponsor a volunteer training session with meals/drinks for our hardworking volunteers.

Contact Josh Kiser for more information.

Demand at our food pantry remains high, and we are greatly need some important food and toiletry items:

• Condiments (ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard)
• Salad dressing
• Dog and cat food (3-lb. bags)
• Full-size shampoo (we can’t accept mini or hotel toiletries; sorry)
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Laundry detergent
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste

If you can donate these items, we would truly appreciate it!  Volunteers are available Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30-11:30am to accept donations at the food pantry entrance.

Now that we are approaching the end of the year, our Financial Assistance team has nearly run out of resources for clients needing transportation to work and social service appointments – particularly bus passes and gift cards for gasoline. Contact Josh Kiser for details.

Our next “Meet up and Move” event is Monday, November 20, at 8:45 am. Get ready for turkey day by increasing your appetite with some healthy exercise. Join Ada Jenkins Center staff, neighbors, and community leaders as we lace up our shoes, take in the fresh air and get our steps in. Park in one of the nearby lots and meet us at the entrance to the Antiquity Greenway, 20036 Zion Ave, Cornelius. We promise great energy and fun conversation. (Dress warmly!)

Speaking of Turkey, the Davidson Turkey Trot Run/Walk takes place Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 23), and this year, the Ada Jenkins Center is one of the beneficiary organizations. Sign up to volunteer or run/walk with friends today!

Thank you, as always, for supporting our work and caring about the families we serve.