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Gerber Federal Credit Union partners with goodwill VITA to provide FREE tax preparation services

FREMONT, MI (January 27, 2021) —

Gerber Federal Credit Union (Gerber FCU) is pleased to partner with Goodwill Industries and host Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) beginning February 9, 2021 at the Corporate Branch located at 508 W State St, Fremont. Gerber FCU volunteered to host after being informed by the United Way of the Lakeshore that VITA was not going to be offered this year in Newaygo County due to COVID restrictions for the previous host.

“We have an available office at our Corporate Branch,” said Lori Little, Vice President – Operations for Gerber Federal Credit Union. “We didn’t want this vital service to stop in Newaygo County and knew we had to do something to help,” Little continued.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a community partnership between the IRS and ten local nonprofit organizations led by Goodwill Industries of West Michigan. VITA coalition partners work year round to plan and organize free tax preparation services, recruit and train volunteers, and conduct outreach activities and events to increase awareness of tax credits and free tax preparation services available to hardworking families. The coalition partners are committed to tax credit outreach and free tax preparation services because both help to raise incomes for local families and increase financial stability. In addition, free tax preparation programs help to increase the amount of refund dollars returned to area communities and help to increase local economic activity. Free tax preparation with volunteer assistance through VITA is available to all married couples or singles with or without children with incomes below $60,000. In previous years, VITA processed 2,700 tax returns in any given year.

Contact CALL 2-1-1, dial 211, call (877) 211-5253 or visit www.vitawestmichigan.org to determine if you are eligible for free tax services, and to find a VITA site that is located near you. A call specialist will help you determine which service is best for you and will take your information to schedule an appointment, or will direct you to your best option for walk-in services. The call specialist will also advise you of the items you must bring with you to the VITA site in order to have your tax return prepared.

About Gerber Federal Credit Union

Gerber Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution headquartered in Fremont, Michigan. Gerber FCU provides financial services to residents and employees of Newaygo County and surrounding townships with two branches located in Fremont, Mich. and one in Newaygo, Mich. Visit www.GerberFCU.com for more information.