Volunteers assist 631 with income tax returns

Pictured from left: Ian Parsells, Derby Neck Library director; Maritza Travanti, IRS Coordinator/Hartford; Elspeth Lydon, Plumb Memorial Library director, Shelton; Marilyn Profit of Shelton;  Aldis Klavins of Shelton; Marlene Bruzas of Derby. / Contributed photo

The Valley Community Coalition for Financial Security hosted a reception May 1 at the Naugatuck Savings Bank, Ansonia branch, for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Center volunteers.  The event celebrated the success of the Valley collaborative among area libraries, volunteers and TEAM, Inc.
 During the 2012 tax season, 631 returns were completed at TEAM, Plumb Memorial, Huntington Branch, and Derby Neck Libraries.
Site coordinators were Lynn Weitzner, Al Klavins, David Rabinove and Marilyn Profit and coalition members included Elspeth Lydon, Shelton Library System Director, Shawn Fields, Huntington Branch Director, and Ian Parsells, Head Librarian at Derby Neck Library.
The program’s formal presentations were made by Diane Stroman and Richard Knoll of TEAM, Inc., Shannon Houston from the Connecticut Association for Health and Human Services (CAHS), IRS coordinator Maritza Travanti and Robert Rose, Ansonia branch manager of Naugatuck Savings Bank.
During the tax season, more than $296,000 in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) were returned to the region – and all tax returns totaled $882,000.
 The VITA Centers saved clients/families upwards of $200,000 in fees they would normally have had to pay a tax preparer. 
VITA volunteers include: Matt Battaglia, Phillip Brower, Marlene Bruzas, Erica Celso, Barbara Chernesky, Michael DePalma, Sharon Drewelus, Molly Farrington, Joan Kayser, Kim Kinsella, Aldis Klavins, Laura McGarvey, Erica Nadal, Diane O’Brien, Angie Pagan, Reshmi Parakkal, Silvia Paytas, Marilyn Profit, David Ravinove, Elizabeth Slawson, Nancy Valentine, Delphine Watson and Lynn Weitzner.
 VITA program costs were underwritten by the NSB Foundation and the Connecticut Association for Health and Human Services (CAHS).
TEAM Inc. is a private, 501(c)3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to connect individuals and families with solutions that lead to well-being, self-sufficiency and full participation in the community.  It aims to achieve its mission by conducting activities that address the needs of economically disadvantaged individuals and families including resource mobilization, education, advocacy, and service delivery.
TEAM programs serve the communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Oxford, Shelton, Seymour, and Woodbridge.            

The above information was taken from a release provided by Mary Ann Vlahac, marketing coordinator, TEAM, Inc.