Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Grace

Since 2010, the William P. Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development at the Grace College School of Business and United Way of Kosciusko County have sponsored the IRS-endorsed VITA Grace program in our county. Since that time, Goodwill Industries has joined as an additional funding partner to make sure that the program continues to bless the residents of Kosciusko County.

VITA is open beginning February 6, 2023.

By Phone:
VITA appointments can be made via phone call at (574) 372-5160. Leave a voicemail, and a VITA volunteer will return the call.

By Email:
Appointments can also be made via email at vitataxes@grace.edu.

Hours of Operation:
Mondays 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Wednesdays & Thursdays 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Saturdays 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, 610 Wooster Rd., Winona Lake

United Way of Kosciusko County and the William P. Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development is offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in our county to provide free tax preparation. This service will be offered to elderly, disabled and lower income individual(s) filing a basic tax return. This cannot be accomplished without volunteers, and we are asking for your help.

This program provides a unique opportunity for Grace College students in the Federal Income Tax class to put their learning into practice. Each student enrolled in the course is now required to volunteer with VITA for 20 hours. Additionally, all Grace business students are able to earn applied learning credits through volunteering. Overall, the VITA program has proven to be a prime learning experience for student volunteers.

The Grace College School of Business is preparing for its eleventh year of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program, which provides free tax preparations for seniors, disabled and lower-income individuals filing a basic tax return, will run Monday, Jan. 27 through the end of March.

“We do this first and foremost to help the community. VITA provides a valuable service to individual families in Kosciusko County, and it funnels that money back into our local economy,” said Dr. Al Grossnickle, associate professor of business at Grace College and director of the William P. Gordon Institute of Enterprise Development. The average engagement is around 65 volunteers completing 350 tax returns each year.

Volunteers, including Grace College business students and professors and certified public accountants (CPAs), make the service possible in Kosciusko County.

When Grossnickle took over the program in 2012, he saw a unique opportunity for students in the Federal Income Tax class to put their learning into practice. Each student enrolled in the course is now required to volunteer with VITA for 20 hours. Additionally, all business students are able to earn applied learning credits through volunteering. Overall, the VITA program has proven to be a prime learning experience for student volunteers.

“I participate in the VITA tax program because it is a wonderful opportunity for me to use the skills I have acquired in my field of study to serve the people in my community,” said Gracie Long, second-year VITA volunteer and student leadership team head. “It has taught me the importance of adaptability, organization, and gracious communication, which will be fundamental to my future endeavors,” Long added.

Questions?

Email vitataxes@grace.edu or call (574) 372-5160.