AARP tax helpers appreciated

To the editor:
    With another tax season coming to a close, I would like to thank the almost 300 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers from Maine who generously donated their time this year. During the last 12 weeks, our Tax-Aide volunteer team helped well over 20,000 Mainers file their tax returns and answered questions for many others.
    In addition to our IRS- certified volunteer tax preparers, our team includes appointment schedulers and client greeters. Working together, they make the entire tax filing process run seamlessly.
    The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is the nation’s largest free volunteer-run tax preparation service. Since 1968, more than 50 million low to middle-income individuals across the country have had their taxes successfully prepared through Tax-Aide. With our program being jointly sponsored by AARP and the Internal Revenue Service, I would venture to say that our volunteer training program is second to none.
    Tax-Aide volunteers tell us that this is one of the most interesting and rewarding volunteer opportunities they’ve ever experienced. They know they are helping others and really making a difference. They also enjoy learning a new skill. Our volunteers in Maine certainly put those skills to work this year. Operating from over 80 senior centers, public libraries and other community sites, they did an extraordinary job. Our thanks and congratulations to every single one of them.
Joan Jagolinzer
AARP Foundation
Tax-Aide district coordinator