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GET IT, AND GET IT RIGHT WITH FREE TAX HELP AT A VITA SITE! Winston-Salem, North Carolina — Workers may get a larger tax refund this year because of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). But to get it, you must file a tax return and claim it. Friday, January 31, 2025, is EITC Awareness Day, a nationwide effort to increase awareness about EITC and free tax preparation sites. This year, the IRS is promoting EITC and providing information on other refundable tax credits that you may be eligible for. EITC, or Earned Income Tax Credit, is a refundable credit. This means that if you qualify for the credit, you can get the amount you qualify for whether you are required to file or not, even if you're not expecting a refund. This is in addition to any other refund you may be due. However, you will not just automatically receive a check -- you will have to file a tax return. Last year, approximately 803,000 North Carolina taxpayers received about $2.25 billion in EITC or an average of $2,800 in EITC per taxpayer. You might qualify for EITC if you worked last year and had a joint income of less than $66,819. EITC can mean up to a $7,830 refund when you file a return if you have qualifying children. Workers without a qualifying child could be eligible for a smaller credit up to $632. Why is it important to have an EITC Awareness Day each year? One-third of the EITC population changes each year. The IRS estimates that only four out of five workers claim the EITC they earned. This leaves billions of dollars on the table each year. We want to get the word out to those who are eligible to file a tax return even if they don’t owe any tax to claim the EITC. It’s money workers can use for groceries, rent, utilities, and other bills. EITC is complex. It varies by income, family size, and your filing status. To be eligible, you must have earned income or certain disability income. This means you must have income from working for someone or working for yourself. Volunteers – trained by the Internal Revenue Service – ask you the needed questions to find out if you qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits. Volunteers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites , also prepare and e-file (electronically file) your tax return at no cost to you. "Our community volunteers help you get EITC and the maximum refund you’re due. Our goal is to help you get it and get it right. This is money you can save or use to pay off bills, buy that car to get to work or make a down payment on a home. Let us help make your life a little easier, “said Shirley Abdullah, VITA Program Director at Experiment In Self-Reliance, about ESR's VITA site. Visit our free tax preparation sites at: Experiment In Self-Reliance, 3480 Dominion Street, Winston-Salem NC Monday - Thursday, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Fridays 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Walk-In ONLY! No appointments Forsyth County Public Library, 660 West Fifth Street, Winston-Salem NC Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM By Appointment Only! No Walk-ins OR: Find a volunteer free tax return preparation site at IRS.gov Locator Tools Call 211 or 311 to find a volunteer free tax return preparation site   Bring the following to make sure our volunteers get you the right amount of credit you deserve: A valid driver's license or other photo ID card Social security cards, a social security number verification letter for all persons listed on the return Birth dates for all persons listed on the return All income statements: Forms W-2 and 1099, Social Security, unemployment, and other statements, such as pensions, stocks, or interest, and any documents showing taxes withheld All records of expenses, such as tuition, mortgage interest, or real estate taxes Copies of last year's state and federal tax returns, if available Bank routing numbers and account numbers to direct deposit any refund Dependent childcare information: name and address of who you paid and either the caretaker's SSN or other tax identification number If you purchased coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace , Form 1095-A PDF , Health Insurance Marketplace Statement Both spouses to sign forms to e-file a joint tax return

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - On Halloween, Thursday, October 31st, Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR), in conjunction with Mechanics & Farmers Bank and its community partners, proudly hosted their 1st annual Trunk or Treat event at Mechanics & Farmers Bank, located at 770 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem, NC. This fun-filled afternoon invited families to enjoy a safe and festive Halloween experience while learning more about the important work ESR does. "I’m here to provide the kids with a safe place to come and engage with other community members while collecting candy," said Chief William H. Penn, an ESR Board Member and Chief of the Winston-Salem Police Department. "We are celebrating Halloween in a fun, safe environment, and all the participating community agencies not only talk about loving kids but also demonstrate it by engaging with them. "Trunk-or-treat events are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. Parents of young children especially appreciate these Halloween gatherings. Families can stroll among cars decorated for Halloween and let their children experience the excitement of trick-or-treating without the stress of navigating their neighborhoods. Little ghosts and goblins can put on their costumes and collect candy without getting tired. "It’s wonderful to see a community come together to support one another, and to watch children enjoy themselves, knowing there are people who stand behind them and their families is powerful, especially in this community," shared Dr. Phygenia Young, another ESR Board member. Through this event, we were able to provide a fun experience and delicious candy to many children and families, thanks to our community partners, which included Mechanics & Farmers Bank, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department, the Winston-Salem Police Department, Sifted Sugar, Inc., United Way, the Delta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the Children’s Law Center, and the ScottCares Foundation. As ESR celebrates 60 years of serving this community, these efforts enable us to continue providing essential services to clients and fulfill our goal of facilitating access to education, homeownership, and free tax preparation for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. Experiment in Self-Reliance is a non-profit agency chartered in 1964 and has been supporting the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community for over 60 years. Our mission is to empower social and economic self-reliance for low-income and homeless individuals. We are dedicated to creating a judgment-free zone and treating everyone with respect, all while pursuing our vision of reducing poverty and homelessness in our community. To learn more or make a donation, visit us at  www.eisr.org  or give us a call at 336 722-9400. #END

On Monday, March 25th, St. Leo's provided food to 25 ESR families.  Each family was given either a turkey or ham of their choosing and food items needed for Easter dinner to feed their families, along with Easter baskets and or/easter candy items to families with school-aged children.  Goodwill Industries also worked in collaboration with ESR to pick up and deliver the items to our location.  St. Leo's has been a partner with ESR for several years and hosts sponsorships for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas to some of the client families we serve. We are grateful for their continued support and partnership over the years.

Become a Volunteer With your help, life here in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County can be better for everyone Every year, ESR is fortunate to work with volunteers who aim to give back to the community in a variety of ways. Everyone has a unique set of gifts that allow them to serve others, and we are happy that you are interested in sharing your gift with others. Please download the brochure below to learn more about our volunteer opportunities. Then, please fill out the information below and we will get in touch with you! Volunteer Brochure DOWNLOAD Volunteer Interest Form First name Last name Email Phone I am interested in volunteering for the following Clerical/Administrative Tasks Outdoor Maintenance Tax Preparer Special Events Other (please specify) Submit Thanks for submitting!

Donate Now more than ever, ESR needs your support Your donation stays here in Forsyth County. Generally, your monetary contributions go directly to client assistance funds. These funds may be used for purchasing food vouchers and bus passes, for deposits on utilities, rent deposits, assistance with childcare for a working parent, uniforms for work or school, tuition, books, and other services to help meet our clients’ immediate and long-term needs. Your donations of goods also go to assist our clients, depending on the nature of the donation. We have limited storage for donated items, however please call us to see if we have an immediate need for your items. For information on how to donate tangible items, call (336)-722-9400. For more ways to give, see giving options below. Annual Fund General giving goes to the area that has the most need. Your gift, plus the gifts of others, can mean the continuation of a program, the addition of new programs or activities to help citizens of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County to remove themselves from poverty, help meet the needs of a family throughout the year, or provide for a host of other vital services in our community. Louise G. Wilson Legacy Society Louise G. Wilson served as ESR’s Executive Director from 1968 until 1985. Over the course of her career and throughout her life, Wilson dedicated her time to advocating for the needs of the poor. Her legacy of service and commitment to the community proceeds her. The Louise G. Wilson Legacy Society is reserved for donors who contribute $1,000 annually. An honor event will be held each year in recognition of Mrs. Wilson and the Legacy Society. Donation Form First name Last name Street Address Street Address Line 2 City Region/State/Province Postal / Zip code Email Phone Select Your Campaign Annual Fund General Support Louise Wilson Legacy Society Program Support (please specify) Other (please specify) If your gift is in support of a Program or Other, please specify the program or campaign here. This gift is In honor of (please specify) In memory of (please specify) Not applicable If your gift is "In honor of" or "In memory of," please specify here. Enter the amount you wish to pay: $ Go to Checkout Thanks for submitting!

Empowerment Series Empowerment Series Put the financial power in your hands! The Road To Empowerment (R2E) financial series was created to empower you to pursue your financial goals through career enhancement, financial literacy, and asset building. Our goal is to provide financial literacy sessions that fit your needs and schedule. Sessions will challenge, teach, and prepare you for the future. Place Matters Every community has its own unique challenges and opportunities. Solutions are not one-size-fits-all; what works for one doesn’t work for another. We know that our entire community thrives when all of its neighborhoods are healthy. What Does The Series Teach? The series teaches budgeting, of course, but also covers several topics that can profoundly affect your financial situation. These include banking services, renter’s skills, and career readiness. Each session provides detailed information about the topic of the day and how it affects your budget and your overall financial health. What’s In It For You? Certificate of Completion/Graduation Door Prizes (Gift Cards, Books, etc.) Dinner during the sessions Connections to other programs A deeper knowledge of financial literacy and how to build assets Prizes for perfect attendance How To Participate The Road to Empowerment Series is free, but pre-registration is encouraged. For more information about our upcoming classes and registration, visit our events page . If you have interest in this program, contact the Road to Empowerment Team by calling (336) 722 - 9400 ext. 123 or fill out the form below. Road to Empowerment Request for more information First name Last name Email Phone Submit Thanks for submitting!