Karen Lapekas, a tax attorney from Miami, volunteered in Alaska's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Project, braving extreme cold to help low-income residents prepare their taxes. Over 11 days, she supported residents in three remote towns, filing about 85 tax returns, despite facing challenges such as frozen pipes and subzero weather conditions. The VITA program, a collaboration between the Alaska Business Development Center and the American Bar Association, aims to assist those earning $54,000 or less, including disabled individuals and limited English speakers, in navigating the complexities of tax season.
"The farther we got north, the more extreme the conditions got. There was one building we worked at that didn't have working bathrooms because the pipes had frozen."
"Filing and preparing taxes can be stressful. Now imagine doing it in -25-degree weather."
"Lapekas spent 11 days helping to file around 85 tax returns, demonstrating her commitment to assist vulnerable populations despite the weather challenges."
"The VITA program provides essential assistance to low-income, disabled, and limited English-speaking taxpayers, offering free tax help in extremely challenging conditions."
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