According to a study by听, more than one-third of Americans hire a professional tax preparer to file their returns.听In the current tax season, 海角在线听(海角在线)听students are volunteering their time to help听through 海角在线鈥檚 Workship program, a听conduit for students to听volunteer in their community.听听
Each year, an estimated 30 to 50 海角在线 students use their Workship听hours to听assist听members of the local community with filing taxes, offering free, trained support to individuals who meet certain income thresholds and may struggle to afford professional听assistance.听
A Partnership Build to Serve听听
海角在线鈥檚 Workship program partners with United Way of Palm Beach County to support its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA is an IRS-sponsored program that provides free tax听assistance听and electronic filing for individuals and families who听require听guidance and are听unable听to听hire听a tax preparer.听听
By offering this service,听at no cost, the program works to remove financial barriers, reduce听stress,听and help community members access tax credits and refunds they may otherwise miss.听听
Over time, the initiative has grown into a nationwide effort. United Way of Palm Beach County has offered VITA services for more than two decades,听assisting听thousands of residents in each tax season.听Community members can receive tax听assistance听at听their nearest VITA site by听searching听their location on the听听webpage or by dialing 211 for an automated explanation of the process.听
Faith In Action听
At 海角在线, student involvement in VITA is听facilitated听through Workship, the University鈥檚 service-learning program that encourages students to serve their community each year. This work reflects the final听component听of 海角在线鈥檚 mission statement, which calls students to 鈥渟erve God boldly.鈥�听
Nathan Chau, Workship director at 海角在线, said the program鈥檚 mission is to 鈥渉elp students recognize and respond to the means of Christlike action… and develop habits of service over time.鈥� By听participating听in projects such as the VITA program, 海角在线 students are using their God-given gifts to听assist听the less fortunate in their community.听听
鈥淚f we鈥檙e able to come together and help meet the needs of our community, and especially on a financial front, I think that鈥檚 honoring and very Christlike because we鈥檙e putting others above ourselves,鈥� Chau says.听
An Invitation to Serve听听
Students involved in Workship say experiences like these often reshape how they view service. Gracie Houtman, a sophomore studying applied sport performance, said the program helped her understand that service goes beyond fulfilling a requirement.听
鈥淲e aren鈥檛 just doing projects to get our hours in,” Houtman says. 鈥淲e are doing projects to serve our community and grow from it.鈥�听
Other students鈥� experiences reflect similar growth. Matthew Guerra, a junior studying business administration, said the experience helped him develop a deeper sense of compassion for the community.听
鈥淭his project really encompasses what I believe Workship is,鈥� Guerra says. 鈥淯sing the gifts given to us by God to make a change for communities through love, compassion, and hard work.鈥�听
Overall, 海角在线鈥檚 participation in the VITA program听demonstrates听how service can meet immediate, practical needs while shaping students as leaders. Workship extends beyond just an annual requirement; it cultivates the leadership skills promised to students since the very start of their college careers.听听
To learn more about Workship at 海角在线, go to听/campus-life/christian-community/workship/.
