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Volunteers provide Tax-Aide service

FAIRMONT — For those struggling with low incomes or in need of help when it comes to filing taxes electronically, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free, individualized tax preparation at sites around the country.

This year, Fairmont’s site has moved to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church at 102 N. Park St., next to the Martin County Library. It is open every Tuesday and Thursday.

Tax-Aide volunteers take time during the tax season to help people who might struggle filing their returns. However, volunteer Joy Pollock emphasized the need for those seeking aid to call and make an appointment.

“We have about two thirds of our appointments are already taken and scheduled,” she said. “When that schedule is full, we can’t take anybody else.”

Pollock said part of the busy schedule is rooted in the fact that there is no office in Faribault or Jackson counties.

“People come from clear over in Wells and Blue Earth, and we’re the only one in the area,” she said. “We used to do a lot from Iowa, but now you have to be certified to do state of Iowa returns and you can’t do training except for about four and a half hours away. But we have enough just in Minnesota to fill all of our time slots.”

As far as volunteers, Pollock said there is a big need.

“We’re down one from last year,” she noted. “We had three people that wanted to take the training, and then circumstances prevented one and the other two never completed it.”

Those who might be interested in giving their time need to be trained and certified. They can go to the AARP website and fill out a volunteer application.

“If we don’t get more people, there’s no way we can serve the amount of people that we have in years past,” Pollock said. “We’re just limited in how much we can do.”

She also shared that weather has had a heavy impact this year.

“This is the first year we’ve ever had to close,” she said. “When schools are closed, we are closed. We’ve always had that rule, but we’ve never missed a day.

“It’s been really slow. The first day we had computer problems, and then the wind kicked up so we canceled a few appointments and then went home. Then the next two days we weren’t open and then we tried to have a full day and the wind came up at noon again.”

Despite it all, Pollock said most people seem appreciative of the service.

Pollock and other volunteers are excited to be in their new location at St. Martin’s.

“This is a really nice space here, and the church has been really good to us,” she said. “It’s also good because we serve a lot of handicapped people and they can be dropped off right at the door.”

The Tax-Aide service will continue through April 11. Those who want to make an appointment are asked to call (507) 230-4400 on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

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