DCCG is partnering with local AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers to offer free tax prep services at the Genoa Area Community Food Hub. The service is open to the public with no age or income restrictions. Tax preparation help will be by appointment only on Fridays and Saturdays from February 12th through April 10th. To make an appointment, call 815.751.5826 during regular business hours.

If you would like to become a volunteer tax preparer, contact Joel Plapp at jeplapp@frontier.com or 815.751.5826

Per DeKalb County Community Gardens Press Release:

DeKalb County Community Gardens is partnering with local AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers to provide the community with free tax preparation services for the 2020 filing season at the Genoa Area Community Food Hub (GACFH) located at 415 W. Main Street in Genoa.

Currently in its 52nd year, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides in-person and remote tax assistance free of charge to anyone, with a special focus on taxpayers who are 50 or older or who have low to moderate income.

“We are very happy that the Genoa Hub is hosting our free Tax-Aide program, provided by AARP and the IRS. The Genoa Hub will allow us to continue this volunteer service this tax season,” shared Mark Anderson, DeKalb County AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer. Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to ensure their knowledge and understanding of the latest changes and additions to the tax code are up to date.

This free tax preparation service is open to the public and has no age or income restrictions. Individuals must bring their photo ID, Social Security card, and 2020 tax documents. All tax preparation help is by appointment only on Fridays and Saturdays beginning February 12 through April 10, 2021. To make an appointment, call 815.751.5826 during regular business hours.

“This year we are focusing our community programming on seven different areas: Human Services, Financial Health, Health, Food, Home Life, Entrepreneurship, and Education,” said Haleigh Hunger, GACFH Director. “Many of us file taxes so it makes perfect sense to bring free tax preparation to address financial health.”

“This COVID time has negatively impacted our volunteer group. We have lost some volunteers and some sites for our service,” explained Anderson. Individuals interested in making a difference in the community by becoming a volunteer tax preparer should contact Joel Plapp, DeKalb County AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program representative, at jeplapp@frontier.com or 815.751.5826.

For information about GACFH, contact Haleigh Hunger, GACFH Director, at hhunger@dekalbgardens.org or 815.761.7313

DeKalb County Community Gardens (DCCG) is a local non-profit organization that takes an innovative approach to ending hunger and food insecurity in DeKalb County. DCCG addresses the common challenge of reliably accessing fresh, local, and nutritious food by providing, at no cost, access to fresh vegetables for all who may be in need. In addition, DCCG’s community gardens and experiential education programs empower residents to control their food systems by growing their own produce and sharing with their community. Since launching in 2012, DCCG has provided over one million pounds of food to residents in DeKalb County. www.dekalbgardens.org