Lakes & Prairies VITA Tax Site Receives Generous Support from Bank of the West

Bank of the West Branch Area Manager Scott Green (left) and
Moorhead Branch Manager Kari Saurdiff (2nd from right) present two
checks totalling $5,000 for our Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance Program.  Receiving the checks are Joe Pederson,
Lakes & Prairies Executive Director and Brenda Maaninga,
Tax Site Coordinator and Director of Finance.$

The Lakes & Prairies Free Tax Site is now in its 7th year.  During these years the tax site has grown from serving 84 to now more than 650 households annually.  Last year households received more than $1.65 million in refunds and saved an estimated $150,000 to $200,000 in tax preparation fees.  Eligible households also received information about federal benefits and other opportunities that could further leverage their income.  The growth of the tax site to what it is today could not have taken place without the financial support of individuals and businesses in our communities.  The gifts presented by Bank of the West (BOTW) will help cover costs related to tax site operations and outreach to help low and moderate income families in their efforts to achieve family economic stability and success.

Lakes & Prairies Receives Promising Practice Award

Brenda Maaninga, Lakes & Prairies Tax Site
Coordinator  accepts award on behalf of volunteers
and staff who worked together for the success
of this effort.

Staff, volunteers, board members and program participants
came forward to receive the award.

The  "Banking the Unbanked" through our VITA Tax Site project received a Promising Practice award at the Minnesota Community Action Partnership Best Practice ceremony held on February 15th in St. Paul.

The Practice:  Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership has incorporated pre-paid debit card services as a method to provide low cost banking services to the previously unbanked. 

Households utilizing VITA Tax Site services were offered the opportunity to sign up for a pre-paid debit card to deposit their refund.  The Impact: The pre-paid debit card provides the households the ability to build savings, avoid predatory lending practices and work toward financial security.The debit cards are FDIC insured, very low fees, and protect against the possibility of overdraft.

Lakes & Praires shares in Best Practice Award presented to West Central Initiative

Nancy Straw, President, West Central 
Initiative receives the Best Practice award
presented by Steve Nagle, Executive Director
of West Central MN Communities Action

Leadership Academy participants and Community Action
staff from  the 4 CAPs listen as award description
is presented by Catherine Solheim, Associate Professor
Family Social Science,
University of Minnesota College of Education & Human
Development

Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership shared in the "Leadership Academy -- Best Practice" award presented in St. Paul on February 15th.  Nancy Straw, President, West Central Initiative received the award for WCI's leadership in facilitating and providing support for the project.  Lakes and Prairies had 4 participants last year and will be sending 7 new Leadership Academy participants this spring.  Other CAP agencies sharing in the award were Mahube Community Council, Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action Council and West Central Minnesota Communities Action.

The Practice:  Too often, the full potential of leaders goes untapped.  The Leadership Academy helps previously undiscovered, low income leaders realize their power and take more active roles in building their communities' future.  The Academy provides a space and structure for people to acquire and practice competencies that result in becoming more effective leaders.  The Impact:  Preliminary results are pomising, indicating that participants have become more involved in their communities, are accepting formal or informal leadership positions and have become more effective community advocates.

Lakes & Prairies Free Tax Site open

The Lakes & Prairies Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has opened its doors for  Minnesota individuals and families.  This year, in addition to the Moorhead location, one day a week assistance will be available in Barnesville, Breckenridge and Hawley.   -- all by appointment.

You are eligibile to access this service if you:

• Are a Minnesota resident,
• Have an income at or below $30,000 for an individual or $50,000 for a family, and
• Do NOT operate your own small business or work as an independent contractor.

How to make an appointment:

Tax preparation appointments can be made by calling 218-299-7000 or toll free 800-452-3646 anytime weekdays from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.   Please note, no walk-in appointments are available.  All appointments must be scheduled in advance.  Please be sure to have all your W-2s and other required paperwork..  

Locations and Times:  

What to Bring:

Severe Weather Cancellations:  When there is a possibility that weather conditions may result in a cancellation of appointments, we will try to call you.  We also encourage you to call us or visit this Blog from our Lakes & Prairies Home page.

Tax Site Is Open on Tues and Thurs evenings: Call for an appointment.

The Lakes & Prairies Free Tax Site is accepting appointments for Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Moorhead and Monday mornings in Hawley, at the REACH office.To make an appointment call (218) 299-7000 or toll free at (800) 452-3646.  Please see the schedule below for the location and hours of operation in Moorhead and Hawley.
Moorhead: 715 11th St. N,
Tuesdays & Thursdays*January 25th – April 12th, 5 pm – 8 pm
* Also Wednesdays in February

Hawley REACH Office: 421 5th Street,
Every Monday, January 31st— April 11th10 am — 12:30 pm


For more information, including "What To Bring" checklists and other important tax site information go to www.lakesandprairies.net/taxsite.