NextStep Ministries...
Volunteers needed to help families apply for benefits  
February  14, 2012 

With the help of local volunteers, NextStep Ministries, an Outreach of EUM Church in Greenville will soon be able to help low income and moderate income wage earners apply for federal and state benefits as well as complete tax forms. 

NextStep Ministries is looking for up to ten volunteers to serve as benefits bank counselors to assist families in free tax completion of federal, state and school taxes and applying for a wide variety of state and local services. Volunteers will prepare free tax or benefit form completion using Ohio Benefit Bank software. Counselors, who should be at least 18 years old, should have basic computer skills, phone skills and a desire to help people. A three hour training will be provided by the Ohio Benefit Bank for each of the programs (IE: taxes or benefits), familiarizing them with the programs and benefits they may be referred to throughout the application process.  Workbooks will be provided for the volunteer. 

“By helping our most vulnerable residents navigate through tax forms and the difficult process of qualifying for specific government and nonprofit programs, volunteers will play an important role in connecting Darke County residents to available state and local resources,” says Kristy Cutarelli, EUM Church Outreach Ministries Coordinator.  She went on to say, “This program has brought over 2.5 million dollars back into Darke County through tax refunds and government benefits over the past four years.” 

To learn more about this volunteer opportunity or other opportunities within our community, please contact HandsOn West Central Ohio at (937) 548-8002 ext. 211 or visit www.handsonwestcentralohio.org. HandsOn West Central Ohio, including Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, is a program of Council on Rural Services. This program receives funding from Darke County United Way, Corporation for National Service, Area Agency on Aging, PSA2.