Media Advisory

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October 10, 2006

What

The fourth annual Earn It! Keep It! Save It! (EIKISI) Contra Costa Campaign is seeking volunteers to assist hard-working, low-income families and individuals in filing their taxes and claiming refunds owed to them, such as federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC).

Who

No experience is needed. Volunteers will receive 16-20 hours of training in December and January. Volunteers must be at least 18.

Where & When

Tax preparation centers will be located at 12 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites throughout Contra Costa, between January 27 and April 14, 2007. Some sites will be open during the day, evening hours on weeknights or during the day on Saturdays. Bilingual volunteers also are needed as interpreters and tax preparers. Greeters and screeners are needed, as well.

How

Volunteers can attend training sessions on Saturdays or do their training online if they volunteered last year. Volunteers must make a minimum commitment of 16 to 20 hours and can schedule regular weekly shifts throughout tax season or work two or three full Saturdays. For online training, visit www.irs.gov and type "Link and Learn" in the IRS Keyword field. The deadline for submitting volunteer applications is December 15. Applications are available online at Contra Costa Health Services' website or for more information or to be a site coordinator, call Campaign Manager Lloyd Madden at 925-313-1736 or Margaret LeFebvre at 925-313-1719.

Why

Through the EITC, low-income households earning $38,348 or less can receive up to $4,536 in tax refunds - a significant amount of money for families struggling to make ends meet.

The EIKISI program is sponsored by the Family Economic Security Partnership (FESP). FESP is a public, private and nonprofit collaboration that includes the Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department, Contra Costa Health Services, United Way of the Bay Area, First Five Contra Costa, IRS, and the East Bay Community Foundation.

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