United Way VITA volunteers

Free tax preparation appointments are now available through the United Way.

The United Ways of Chautauqua County are again offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, or VITA, for individuals who make less than $73,000 a year, persons with disabilities, people over 60 years of age, or people who are limited English speakers.

VITA utilizes local volunteers, certified by the IRS, to prepare income tax returns at no charge.
United Way officials say the goal of VITA is to ensure that 100% of the refund amount is returned to the taxpayer. Last year, the VITA program generated $2,242,278 in refunds, with volunteers logging more than 3,500 hours of service to the community.

Traditional in-person appointments and drop off sites for virtual tax preparation are available across Chautauqua County. Common issues that cannot be addressed by the VITA Program include income from rental property, farming, or businesses which manage an inventory or show a loss for the tax year. VITA Volunteers will determine if any items are out of scope at time of service.

Pre-scheduling is required for both in person and drop off appointments:

• The Prendergast Library
• Community Connections at Findley Lake (drop off only)
• Sinclairville Library
• United Way of Southern Chautauqua County (drop off only)
• Mayville Library
• Silver Creek Library
• United Way of Northern Chautauqua County
• SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator
• Westfield YWCA

To schedule an appointment for free tax assistance, dial 2-1-1 or call toll-free at 888-696-9211. You can also text your zip code to 898211 (messaging and data rates apply.) A service representative will then direct you to the appropriate location to schedule your appointment.
Once your appointment is confirmed, please bring the following:

• Proof of identification (photo ID.)
• Social Security cards for you, your spouse, and dependents.
• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter may be substituted for you, your spouse, and your dependents if you do not have a Social Security number.
• Birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents on the tax return.
• Wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R,1099-NEC, 1099-MISC) from all employers.
• Unemployment statement
• Interest, dividend, and brokerage statements from banks (Forms 1099.)
• Education and student loan documents (1098T, 1098E)
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available.
• Proof of bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit such as a blank check.
• Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number.
• Form 1095-A.
• Copies of income transcripts from IRS and state, if applicable.
• To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

In lieu of an appointment, taxpayers can also use the self-preparation portal at http://www.MyFreeTaxes.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a point of transparency and disclosure to our audience, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is a corporate underwriter for WRFA and has provided a financial contribution for the general operations of the station within the past year. Funding we receive for General Operations is not used to fund our coverage of local news in the community. That is only made possible through a Community Service Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

Taxpayers either visited a traditional VITA preparation site, opted for virtual preparation, or completed their tax returns using MyFreeTaxes.com.

For the first time this year, United Way of Northern Chautauqua County and United Way of Southern Chautauqua County shared a VITA Program Administrator, who provided support and coordination to 58 volunteers. These volunteers prepared taxes, assisted with intake information, and provided site coordination—logging more than 3,500 hours of service to the community.

In addition, United Way collaborated with the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, who shared 6 volunteers with the VITA program, providing translation services and tax return preparation. The Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union program prepared more than 780 tax returns.

Lisa Sunday

The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and United Way of Northern Chautauqua County have announced Lisa Sunday as their new Finance and Administration Manager. This will be a shared position between the two organizations.

Lisa joined the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County staff part time in 2008, assisting in office operations. She was hired full time in 2016 as the Director of Operations, Development and Finance. Sunday will continue in this role via a contract agreement with the two United Ways. Lisa is a certified VITA Site Coordinator and has helped families get back close to $8 million in State and Federal fee-free income tax refund since 2015. She has been a State Employee Federated Appeal Chautauqua County Coordinator since 2008. Sunday holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Accounting and Non-Profit Management from SUNY Empire State College.

Sunday is a lifelong resident of Chautauqua County, and a member of Jamestown Vikings #65. She and her husband have two children and live in Brocton.

United Way of Northern Chautauqua County Executive Director Diane Hannum, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Executive Director Amy Rohler, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Executive Director Adam Dolce, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Executive Director Tory Irgang

The Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce has presented the 2021 Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, United Way of Northern Chautauqua County and United Way of Southern Chautauqua County.

The organizations were recognized for creating the Chautauqua County Response Fund. This centralized funding pool was used to quickly deploy resources to community-based organizations to address the dramatic economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Since its inception, the Chautauqua County Response Fund has raised more than $1 million from individuals, community organizations, and local foundations.

Each year the Chamber of Commerce presents an honorarium to a charity chosen by the award recipient. This year, the stipend will go to the Capacity Lab, a new shared nonprofit capacity building initiative to be housed at both Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.

Noah Goodling

Fenton History Center Executive Director Noah Goodling is stepping down this week.

City Council member and Fenton History Center Board Member Marie Carrubba told City Council on Monday that Goodling has taken another job within Chautauqua County, “It was with deep regret that the board accepted his resignation about a month ago but this is his last week and they’ll be holding an open house for him on Friday to acknowledge his accomplishments over the past four years. He’s really turned the Fenton around and got it in a much better financial position. And he was very dedicated, very committed, and put a lot of time and energy into the Fenton.”

Goodling said he has taken a position as Project Director for the Capacity Lab, “Which is a brand new initiative. It’s being conducted by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the United Ways from the north and south part of the county, the Sheldon Foundation, and the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation. And basically it’s an initiative to strengthen the non-profit sector across Chautauqua County.”

Goodling said one of the projects he’s most proud of following his four years at the Fenton include making the center more accessible, “Opening up the ADA accessible entry at the end of 2019, that was a huge improvement, I think, to let people know that anybody no matter what your capacity to walk or move is… if you want to come see our programs or see our seasonal exhibits we’re open to you.”

He added the opening of the LGBTQ+ exhibit earlier this year was a major step forward in representing that community’s voice and including them as part of the center’s historical archives.

A Salvation Army volunteer unpacks donation boxes in Jamestown.

JAMESTOWN – For the second week in a row, the Chautauqua County Crisis Response Fund has awarded grants to organizations on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak in Chautauqua County.

On Monday, the Fund’s Decision Committee awarded $76,400 to the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County, Salvation Army of Jamestown and Dunkirk and Chautauqua Opportunities.

Dollars will be immediately released to these organizations to provide flexible funding to help individuals overcome barriers to accessing essential resources, support for supplemental food and personal hygiene items to serve an increase demand of clients, and assistance to support center-based and school-age child care providers throughout the county that have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

According to The Salvation Army, as unemployment throughout the county increases, they are seeing an increase in clients utilizing their services which includes their food pantry for food and personal hygiene items, including diapers and formula.

The Salvation Army of Jamestown and Dunkirk have been working with both United Ways in Chautauqua County to secure volunteers to help unload donations, pack bags and deliver items. Individuals from Southern Tier Environments for Living, Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County and The Resource Center have been helping in these efforts as well.

“The needs of the community have changed and we have adapted very well to providing delivery of food to individuals and families in our community,” said Major Chris Ramirez, Dunkirk Salvation Army.

Additional funding requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the current crisis and recovery phases. At this time, priority is given to requests for needs not served by other federal, state and local resources as it relates to food security, services for older adults, child care services, mental health and wellbeing, and basic human needs.

Since March 23, the Crisis Response Fund has raised nearly $870,000 of its $1 million goal from individuals, community organizations and local foundations. It has also awarded $203,484 to 11 organizations.

The fund is administered by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County on behalf of a coalition of philanthropy, government and business partners including the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and United Way of Northern Chautauqua County.

More information, including how community members can make online tax-deductible donations, can be found on the United Way’s website, uwayscc.org. Individuals can also give by mailing a check made payable to the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County to 208 Pine Street, Jamestown. Please include Crisis Response Fund on the memo line.

Michelle Knapp, St. Susan Center employee, and Frank Smith, long-time St. Susan Center volunteer, pack meals to serve local residents in need during the coronavirus outbreak. A recent grant from the Chautauqua County Crisis Response Fund will assist St. Susan Center in packing to-go meals.

JAMESTOWN – Nearly two weeks after the public launch of the Chautauqua County Crisis Response Fund: COVID-19, the first round of emergency funding, totaling $127,084 has been awarded to eight local organizations.

Organizations receiving funding include:

• Catholic Charities,
• Chautauqua County Rural Ministry,
• Community Helping Hands,
• Feed More WNY,
• Jamestown Community Learning Council,
• Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County,
• The Resource Center,
• and Westfield Community Kitchen.

These dollars are being immediately released to address food security needs, as well as, to help older adults and vulnerable families overcome barriers to accessing essential resources.

“It is inspiring to see how our community has come together during this difficult time to support each other,” said Bonny Scott-Sleight, St. Susan Center executive director. “We are grateful to receive this much needed assistance to continue serving our guests.”

According to Vince Horrigan, Decision Committee chair, every funding request has been very carefully reviewed by the committee, utilizing their expertise in various professional capacities.

“We are looking at all of these funding requests very closely,” Horrigan said. “It is important that what we fund is the very best use of the dollars we have been so generously given by our community to make an immediate impact for those in need from all across Chautauqua County.”

Additional funding requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the current crisis and recovery phases. At this time, priority is given to requests for needs not served by other federal, state and local resources as it relates to food security, services for older adults, child care services, mental health and wellbeing, and basic human needs.

Since March 23, the Crisis Response Fund has raised more than $860,000 of its $1 million goal from individuals, community organizations and local foundations.

The fund is administered by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County on behalf of a coalition of philanthropy, government and business partners including the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and United Way of Northern Chautauqua County.

More information, including how community members can make online tax-deductible donations, can be found on the United Way’s website, UWaySCC.org.

Individuals can also give by mailing a check made payable to the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County to 2018 Pine Street, Jamestown. Please include Crisis Response Fund on the memo line.

On Monday a coalition of Chautauqua County foundations and funders announced the creation of the Chautauqua County Crisis Response Fund: Covid 19, which has been established through the generous contributions from philanthropic and business partners.

During a conference call on Monday afternoon, organizers said the fund will be managed in partnership with the local United Ways (Northern and Southern Chautauqua County), local Community Foundations (Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation).

Officials say the Crisis Response Fund serves as a coordinated response to pool resources to meet the immediate needs the community and to support long-term needs that are not yet known.

The funds initial investors are Carnahan-Jackson Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Cummins Foundation, Holmberg Foundation, Lenna Foundation, Nestle Purina Pet Care, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation, United Way of Northern Chautauqua County, and United Way of Southern Chautauqua County.

In under a week pledges totaling more than $750,000 have already been secured. The public is now invited to contribute by visiting the webpages of the local United Ways or community foundations and going to the sections dedicated to the COVID-19 response.

“This truly is a county-wide effort as we come together to assist organizations working to serve the rapidly changing needs of our community,” said Amy Rohler, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County executive director. “This fund is a coordinated response to meet both the emergency, immediate need of today, and the intermediate to long-term needs that are not yet known.”

Grants will only be made to 501c3 organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution (schools, faith-based organizations and other public entities). And while the Fund is not able to provide grants to individuals, officials say it is funding organizations that have experience and history of providing people and families with services and support.

For more information on how to help grow the fund or learn more about how a local group can benefit, call the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County at 483-1561 or visit UWaySCC.org/Chautauqua-County-COVID-19-response.

This fund will be managed in partnership with the local United Ways (Northern and Southern Chautauqua County), local Community Foundations (Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation) and a number of private and corporate foundations. It serves as a coordinated response to pool resources to meet the immediate needs of our community today, and to support long-term needs that are not yet known.

There will be a full announcement on Monday listing the earliest contributors and a process by which resources will be deployed to community-based organizations on the front lines of this pandemic.