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Mary Colello of Christ our Light parish in Loudonville doesn't come to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program site in Albany each year just to get her tax returns filed for free.

"Everybody is so nice and helpful," she explained. "Sometimes I get a good-looking fella" who chats while he completes her tax returns.

Ms. Colello has been a client of the combined Catholic Charities/CA$H Coalition program for five years. Certified volunteers file income tax returns at no cost for clients who have a yearly income of $54,000 or less.

Ms. Colello noted that she used to file the paperwork herself, but just doesn't want to any more, partly due to trouble with her eyesight.

Two dozen students from the accounting class at Catholic Central High School in Troy volunteer each year for the VITA program; they receive class credit or simply donate their time. It's a long tradition: CCHS has been providing volunteers for the program for 17 years.

How it works
Like other clients, Ms. Colello arrived at the diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany on a recent weekday and received paperwork to fill out, then sat with two students who asked her questions and filled out her tax forms on a computer. An experienced volunteer reviewed the returns before they were submitted.

"This is not stuff everybody can do," said Nino Lai, a junior at CCHS who's also an international student from China. She's been a VITA volunteer for two years.

First-time volunteer Samia Baker, another junior, was missing a pre-calculus class to help out with the program. Senior Maureen O'Brien coached her through completing her first tax return, using experience from last year to guide the newcomer through the process.

"I like helping people," Maureen remarked. "I remember, last year, some guy told me all about his kids -- about how they couldn't go to college unless they joined the military."

Most clients didn't mind explaining their finances to the students, though Ryan Farrar, a CCHS senior, said he sometimes feels awkward asking the mandatory questions on the tax forms.

"We have to ask fine-looking old ladies if they've ever been convicted of a crime," he laughed.

Acey Fripp, who has been getting his taxes done through the Catholic Charities program for three years, reported that "it's never awkward. They explain things to me so that I know what's going on."

Good job, teens
Mr. Fripp also noted that "it's good to see young people making something of themselves," and that he was impressed by several students who told him that they were hoping to have a career in accounting someday.

"Sometimes, we get somebody who says they don't want a kid doing their return. I tell them that they are certified by the IRS, and I reassure them that [the return] is quality-reviewed by a seasoned person," said Mary Olsen of diocesan Catholic Charities, who is also co-chair for the Albany CA$H Coalition chapter.

The students all said they enjoy working with the clients and proving their skills. For junior Erin Mackey, getting to do tax returns with real customers is exciting.

Life lessons
"We've had two full days of VITA training to get certified" by the IRS, she said. The students also studied and completed sample tax returns in their class for months leading up to tax season.

Site coordinator Scott Marcello can empathize with the volunteers: When he was a student at Catholic Central, he volunteered with the program, too.

"It's very nerve-wracking when you start," he remembered. Mr. Marcello now gives pointers on working with and speaking to the clients; he said that being personable is key in making the customer feel comfortable, yet it can be difficult to balance talking to a customer and looking at a computer.

When the program ends, he said, "They'll all be sorry that it's over. I know I was."[[In-content Ad]]

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