Joni, a single mother with two children, could not afford the basic needs for her family. Her annual salary of $20,000 put her just above the poverty line for a family of three—too much to receive public aid, but not enough to make ends meet. She had to arrange transportation just to get to work because she can not afford repairs or insurance for her car.
She was referred to United Way’s free income tax preparation site. Joni was one of the first in line, and could not believe anyone would do her taxes for free. She received a refund of $5,041—over a quarter of her income for the entire year. Joni was amazed and grateful. She paid off bills, bought car insurance—and even gave a donation to her church for those less fortunate. “This was a tremendous blessing for me,” says Joni.
United Way’s free tax clinic puts money back into the pockets of the working poor—a total of $767,000 in refunds for households whose average income was less than $19,000 a year. Families have food to eat, not just for today but also for tomorrow.