Answering the S.O.S.

As I was getting ready to leave work one night not long ago, an S.O.S. e-mail popped up asking for a few volunteers to help out at our United Way 2-1-1 call center. Thanks to a daylong media blitz about the Earned Income Tax Credit – or EITC – 2-1-1 phones had been going crazy and were expected to be even busier during the evening news hours.

Call it a sign of the times or a tribute to the power of the media, but every time the stories ran on WFTV 9 Family Connection, WFTV/TV 27 and Central Florida News 13, calls went through the roof the moment the 2-1-1 information number was mentioned.

Apparently, it was the first time many people had heard about EITC, which offers federal tax credits of up to $5,657 for low-income families and individuals. In these tough times, that’s a potentially life-changing sum for the thousands of local residents who are struggling to pay their rent, feed their kids or keep the heat on.

Although I hadn't previously volunteered at 2-1-1, I’m a true believer in EITC’s ability to help people get on their feet. After a quick phone tutorial, I was ready to jump in and take calls.

It’s one thing to watch news stories about people who are facing tough times. It’s another thing all together to talk to them and personally hear their stories.

For two solid hours I fielded a steady stream of calls from hardworking people who’ve had their lives turned upside down by unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy, serious illness and other crises they never saw coming.

Everybody wanted to know if they were qualified to claim EITC benefits. Though I couldn’t tell them that – we refer people to free tax prep sites instead – just listening and offering the prospect of hope seemed to help.

“God bless you,” said one Kissimmee woman, who’d gone through the foreclosure gauntlet and lost. Struggling now to avoid homelessness, she also asked if we could help her husband who has cancer and no medical insurance.

EITC isn’t a cure-all. But for people whose lives are hanging by a thread, an unexpected refund may be all they need to pay for the deposit on a new apartment, buy decent food for their kids or fix a broken-down car that gets them to work.

And that could be just enough for a family to survive another day, another week or a month, in hopes that things turn around soon.

I was glad I answered the S.O.S. It reminded me again of why I work for United Way.

If you need help, click here or simply dial 2-1-1.

Mary D'Ottavio works in Heart of Florida United Way's marketing department.

EITC: "It was quick, easy and FREE!"

’Tis the season to file your taxes! But that doesn’t mean it has to be a paperwork nightmare or even cost a penny to file. Oh—and how does an extra refund of up to $5,657 sound?

That’s what thousands of Central Floridians will be eligible to claim this year through the Earned Income Tax Credit—or EITC—which is credited with lifting more kids out of poverty than any other federal program.

Heart of Florida United Way has been helping promote awareness of the EITC program, which last year put $395 million back in the hands of low- to moderate-income families and individuals across our region. Money like that also provides a big boost to local businesses where EITC dollars are typically spent.

And claiming EITC is quick, FREE and easy. AARP and the IRS have provided more than 30 locations within Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties where reliable, honest help is available at no cost to those who need it most.

We recently visited one of those locations at the Sanford Senior Center where people had been arriving to get their taxes filed since 8 a.m. WFTV Action 9 Reporter Todd Ulrich interviewed Brittany Richards, United Way Community Investment Senior Manager, to spread awareness of the EITC benefits and free tax prep sites.

As the interview came to an end, I met a family whose husband earned just $13,000 in 2009. By claiming an EITC credit of $3,500, he boosted his overall refund to approximately $4,800. He signed the paperwork and even opened a free bank account on the spot so he could receive his refund even faster.

Later on he told us that last year he had gone to a paid tax prep site and spent several hundred dollars to have his taxes filed. It was a much better experience for him this year, which he stated in six simple words, “It was quick, easy and FREE!”

Just like that his tax season became a holiday instead of a hassle. So spread the word about EITC and the free tax prep sites. In these tough times, an extra $5,657 can make a huge difference to people who are struggling to make ends meet.

Leo Vilenskiy is a UCF student and intern for United Way

Making a Difference, One Call at a Time

Where do I start? New to United Way, I am amazed and frankly overwhelmed by all that they do for our community. These tough economic times are taking an enormous financial and even emotional toll on many Central Florida families, and United Way has certainly had its hands full.

With so many impactful programs and events going on, one that really stands out to me in particular is the United Way 2-1-1 & Elder Helpline. With the new year recently underway, thousands of Central Floridians are asking the question of where to start when it comes to improving their lives in 2010. The search for new and improved beginnings can be tough, but for those who have recently lost their jobs, their homes or can’t afford to feed their kids, finding a solid starting point may seem impossible.

That’s why I found 2-1-1 to be so amazing! It’s actually a one-stop spot for these people to find the answers they need, 24-hours a day. Last year, 2-1-1 operators helped nearly 120,000 callers connect with more than 2,000 programs offered by 800-plus local health and human service agencies.

As the need of the Central Florida community continues to grow, 2-1-1 helps callers find assistance with food, housing, clothing, child care issues, physical and mental health services, elder services and more. 2-1-1 has also recently expanded to include a crisis and suicide counseling hotline for those in our community who are unable to cope with tough situations.

Stay tuned as I learn more about the United Way 2-1-1 & Elder Helpline, as well as other ways United Way is making a difference in our community. Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and remember that if you or someone you know needs help, simply dial 2-1-1 today!

Sarah Veal is a UCF student and intern for United Way