Preparing and Filing Your Tax Return Online Can Be Free for those with income of $62,000 or less

Lakes and Prairies is  proud to partner and promote the My Free Taxes. com website and online, free tax filing service.

Some people are best helped during the tax season by going to a free VITA or TCE tax site.  Others feel quite comfortable using a computer and filing their taxes on their own.  With some services, offers of free tax preparation mean only free for the federal return with fees charged for filing state returns.  But, my free taxes.com includes the filing of up to three state tax returns at no cost.

If you are not sure whether you want to file electronically on your own or whether you might rather attend a free tax preparation location near where you live; you can visit this website and when you enter your zip code it will also tell you what locations for free tax preparation are within 5, 10, 25 or more miles from your location.

Our thanks to the Partner organization and sponsors across the country for adding this valuable service to our existing VITA and TCE free tax preparation assistance services.

Walk-in Tax Site Preparation in Moorhead

The Lakes & Prairies Tax Site is now open for walk-in appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 pm.to 7:00 pm in our Moorhead offices.  We are located in the Clay County Family Service Center at 715 11th Street North, in Moorhead.  Services will also be available on Wednesday evening in February (same times and location) due to higher demand for assistance during the first full month of the tax season.

Those using this service are encouraged to visit our website and particularly to note the I.D. requirements -- including social security cards for all children and adults listed on the tax return.  Also, the website provides a "What-To-Bring" list and other valuable information.

The website also provides information on our other Tax Site locations in Hawley, Barnesville and Breckenridge.  These locations require an appointment and may be on different dates and different times.

As we enter this tax season, we are most grateful for the contribution of time and talent by local volunteers and staff who go the extra mile to make sure that Minnesotans get the help they need to get the tax credits and deductions they deserve!

Service made available through a grant provided by the Minnesota Department of Revenue and the generous funding support Bank of the West and  West Central  Initiative

 

Free Tax Site Assistance begins

The end of January and early February once again signal the opening of Lakes & Prairies free tax site assistance services for MN residents.  Only walk-in services will be available at the Moorhead location.

Tax preparation services in Breckenridge, Barnesville and Hawley locations will be available by appointment

For details of times, locations, what to bring, and other valuable information you can link here.

Eligibility for services include:  (1) Must be a MN resident; (2) An income of $30,000 or less for individuals and $50,00 or less for families; and, not operate a small business or work as an independent contractor.

Service made available through a grant provided by the Minnesota Department of Revenue and the generous funding support Bank of the West and  West Central  Initiative

Closed for Annual All Staff Training

Lakes & Prairies Community Action will be closed all day on Friday, October 30th for our Annual Fall All Staff Training.

Community Action Promotions

Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership's Family and Community Services Division congratulates (from left to right) Emma Schmit, Robin Christianson, and Becki Johnson on their promotions to new positions! Becki has accepted the position of Family and Community Services Director, Emma has accepted the position of Housing Programs Coordinator, and Robin has accepted the position of Special Projects Coordinator. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication.  Congratulations on your new positions!

Energy Assistance Program

West Central Minnesota Communities Action Energy Assistance is open in the Family Service Center in Moorhead Regular weekday office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 4:30 pm.

Home Repair Mission Workcamp

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Home Repair Mission Workcamp

More than 350 Work Camp youth, adult leaders, mission workcamp staff and local volunteers are busy this week repairing homes throughout Clay County, MN.  Youth arrived on Sunday, July 14 and will be leaving on Saturday, July 20th. 

Home Repair

Campers heading out in the morning from
Hawley High School to their
work camp site.

 

 

Work camp youth are guided by local
volunteer mentors.

 

 

 

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

CONNECTING TO END POVERTY

Join us on Tuesday, April 16th, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, for a Regional Convening of Connecting to End Poverty -- A Minnesota Without Poverty gathering.  The meeting will take place:
St. Joseph's Gathering Place
1013 3rd Ave S., Moorhead, MN. 

Engage and discuss how the MN Legislative Commission to End Poverty (LCEP) recommendations can be moved forward during the 2013 legislative session.  Gatherings have taken place across the State of MN with the goal of making sure the LCEP and, its current efforts as being explored by the MN legislature's "Ladders Out of Poverty" commission continue to press forward to strengthen our State.

Senator Heitcamp receives Plaque

National Community Action Foundation - Annual Conference -           

March, 2013

 

Save the Date! -- KIDS COUNT COFFEE

Kids Count Coffee-Moorhead - Sept. 25, 1:00 P.M.

Save the date for the Children's Defense Fund -Minnesota KIDS COUNT Coffee.  Learn about regional trends in children's health, education, and economic stability.  Get a special look at Kids Count data from a rural perspective.  Find out about best practices being used across the state to improve outcomes for children, adults and families.  Those attending will receive copies of all presentation materials.   

This year’s 2012 Minnesota KIDS COUNT Data Book entitled Children Across Minnesota explores the unique challenges of families living in Greater Minnesota and addresses the often overlooked realities of living in rural areas. 

When:	Tuesday, September 25th, 2012* 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Where:	Map this event » Family Service Center 715 11th Street North, Meeting Room 4 Moorhead, MN 56560
Contact:	Ken Fredette kenf@lakesandprairies.net for more information

Registering to attend is helpful but not mandatory.

You can register by emailing kenf@lakesandprairies.net just put the words KIDS COUNT in the subject line or call 218-299-7315.

* A Kids Count Coffee is also taking place on Wednesday, September 26th at West Central Initiative in Fergus Falls at 10:00 A.M..  Go to www.wcif.org for more information and click on their events calendar.

Voter Registration at Family Service Center September 24th and 25th

As part of National Voter Registration Day activities, Lakes &Prairies Community Action Partnership will participate in Voter Registration activites and help voters find their polling locations.

     DAY/DATE:   Monday, September 24th
                                 Tuesday, September 25th.

     LOCATION:  Clay County Family Service Center (front lobby)
                                 715 11th St. N. Moorhead, MN

     TIMES:           9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.


Registering now allows time to submit the form to the County and send you a postcard notifying you that you are registed and where to vote.  The last day to register to vote is October 15 unless you register at your polling location on the day of the election.  Registering now could save you much time as polling locations are especially busy when there is a Presidential election.  

No matter how you vote, Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership wants you to know...

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

MDH Commissioner visits Moorhead

Dr. Ed Ehlinger MN Commissioner of Health, stopped in  Moorhead on Tuesday morning, August 28th as part of his "Pitch the Commissioner" trip around Minnesota. In his visits Dr Erlinger has learned that there are acute needs in most communities and that the public health infrastructure is weakening. 

 Lakes & Prairies Executive Director Joe Pederson who is also chair of the Minnesota Community Action Partnership board of directors "pitched Community Action" as a key partner with MDH and county Public Health in keeping our communities healthy. He discussed with Dr. Ehlinger how Community Action Agencies play a key role in engaging low income and disadvantaged Minnesotans.

 

 

 

Joe Pederson (left), Dr. Erlinger (center), and Moorhead
Mayor Mark Voxland, (right)

What does your community need to be healthy? Lakes & Prairies Board members and staff emphasized the need for safe affordable child care, early childhood education, Head Start and Early Head Start and the importance of dental access for low income families. In the pictures below, Lakes & Prairies board members Lyle Hovland, and Stephanie Miranowski and Joe continue to "pitch Community Action" with Dr. Ehlinger at Davies Park in Moorhead. 

Lyle Hovland, Wilkin County Commissioner and Lakes
& Prairies Board Member pitches Community Action with
Commissioner Ehlinger

 



Stephanie Minanowski, Wilkin County Commissioner and
Lakes & Prairies Board Secretary/Treasurer pitches
Community Action with Matthew Collie, Legislative
Liaison, MDH.

 



State Bank of Hawley donates $2,500

Bruce Tellefson (center), State Bank of Hawley President and Emily Hagen (left), Personal Banking Officer present a check of $2,500 to Lori Ward, Lakes & Prairies Director of Operations.

Bruce Tellefson (center), State Bank of Hawley President
 and Emily Hagen (left), Personal Banking Officer
present a check of $2,500 to Lori Ward, Lakes &
Prairies Director of Operations. 

A $2,500 gift from the State Bank of Hawley became worth even more with a match grant of $1,000 from Dakota Medical Foundation.  The gift and match will be used to support current health & wellness projects and to provide start-up funding for the 2013 Group Workcamp Home Repair project.  

Applications are already being accepted for the home repair project.  The first review of applications will begin November 1, 2012. Additional information can be found on the Lakes & Prairies website.  The host community for this project is Hawley, MN where some 400 volunteer youth and adult leaders will come together from across the country to repair homes for seniors, persons with disabilities and families experiencing economic hardship.

Health & wellness projects include ongoing efforts in the areas of counseling and application assistance for Medicare Part D recipients, health related programs for seniors, prescription assistance referral, File of Life materials distribution, and food support outreach projects including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Nutritional Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS).

The gift, the match it created and an earlier gift of $500 for Mobile Food Drops in Clay County adds up to $4,000 of helping people and changing lives.  Thank you State Bank of Hawley.  .  . 

Family & Community Services Staff Receive Awards



Congratulations to (top left to right Marie Oihus, Becki Johnson
Rebekah Nelson, and Sarah Paterson.  And,( lower left to right)
Kala Anderson, Emma Schmidt, and
Colleen Murray, Program Director

The Lakes & Prairies Family & Community Services staff were chosen as the recipient of both the 2011-2012 Transitional Housing Program and the Family Homeless Prevention Assistance Program STAR Awards. The awards recognize and value this agency's contributions to MN’s Homeless Management Information System and efforts to end homelessness around the state.   Not only a job well done, but also a first time that both awards were received by
one agency.



Group Workcamp Home Repair - Applications now Accepted

Helping agencies, community organizations, county social service agencies, faith communities, service organizations, businesses, and others are encouraged to make the below information available to homeowners who might benefit from this home repair project. A simple, one-page application is available on our website that can be printed, filled out, and returned to us.

We will be happy to provide you with posters, flyers, handouts, applications, or scripts for bulletins and newsletters. You can do this by calling the Lakes & Prairies Family & Community Services office at 218-299-7314 or toll free at 800-452-3546.  Thank you.

________________

Are you or someone you know in need of

Home Repair Assistance?

The Lakes & Prairies Group Workcamp Home Repair project is now accepting applications from seniors, persons with disabilities and families experiencing economic hardship.  Eligible individuals or families must be homeowners  and live in Clay County or northern Wilkin County, MN.  Projects that will be considered such as interior/exterior painting and building or repairing a wheelchair ramp, are listed on the application.

Site Selection begins November, 2012.   

Otto Bremer Foundation presents check for almost $200,000

Left to Right are:
Howard Barlow, Bremer Bank Community Service
Representative;
Kelli Rohrer, L&P Child Care Resource & Referral;
 Brian Hagen,  President, at Bremer Bank;
Joe Pederson, Executive Director Lakes & Prairies;
Colleen Murray, Director, L&P Family & Community

Lakes & Prairiesreceived a $188,000 grant to benefit low-income children and families.  The check was presented on behalf of the Otto Bremer Foundationby Brian Hagen, president at Bremer Banks.  The grant will be used to: expand Child Care Resource & Referral services; initiate a community-based “Circles of Support” program,  and provide match funding for special projects and initiatives including Group Workcamp Home Repair, the Lakes & Prairies Tax Site, Food Support outreach, and Clay County Seniors.

At the presentation, Pederson spoke of the
importance of this grant to maintain and expand needed services for children and families.

Top Ten Head Start Outcomes

Top Ten Lakes and Prairies CAP

Head Start Outcomes!

 

 Our program has been fully enrolled with a waiting list all year.

Our average daily attendance is 88 percent.

We are one of eight Head Start programs in the nation selected as members of a Learning Community around Parent, Family, & Community Engagement.

96.3% of enrolled Head Start children left last year’s program up-to-date on a schedule of preventive well child care.

98.7% of children left the program having had a dental exam. All of these children left with a “dental home” also.

99.6% children left the program with all of their immunizations up-to-date.

There were 57,915 nutritious meals and snack served to Lakes and Prairies Head Start children this year.

Each child enrolled in one of our classrooms had 65 hours of large motor play outside or in the gym this school year.

School Readiness Goals are aligned with the Minnesota Early Learning Standards and the Head start Outcomes Framework.

All CLASS observations have met or exceeded the minimal criteria as determined by the Office of Head Start

Tax Filing Season a Success Thanks to Volunteers

Thanks to the work of 27 volunteers who contributed 897 hours of their time to assist low and moderate income households with their 2011 tax filings, we can report:

• Federal and State refunds of $1,538,761 for 709 households
• An estimated $170,000 saved in filing fees
• Screenings of 182 households for eligibility for other benefits

Doing the math:  Whether tax site volunteers were greeters, tax preparers, reviewers, or providing clerical support, each hour any volunteer contributed had the outccome of refunding an average of $2,170 to an individual or family.  Volunteers do make a difference! 

Holly Nett completes CCR&R Leadership Development Program

Holly Nett, Child Care Consultation Manager at Lakes & Prairies Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R), completed a 3-year leadership development program offered by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA).  Nett was one of four individuals selected nationally for the intensive mentoring, training, internship, and service opportunities program in the Child Care Resource & Referral field.  During those three years, Nett completed two, 2-week internships.  One focused on child care consultation at the Indiana Association of Child Care Resource & Referral in Indianapolis, IN, in 2010 and a national public policy internship in Washington D.C. in 2011.  Nett has been with Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, CCR&R for 17 years.  The CCR&R program provides services in northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.  

Lakes & Prairies VITA Tax Site Receives Generous Support from Bank of the West

Bank of the West Branch Area Manager Scott Green (left) and
Moorhead Branch Manager Kari Saurdiff (2nd from right)
present two checks totaling $5,000 for our Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance Program.  Receiving the checks are Joe Pederson,
Lakes & Prairies Executive Director and Brenda Maaninga,
Tax Site Coordinator and Director of Finance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lakes & Prairies Free Tax Site is now in its 7th year.  During these years the tax site has grown from serving 84 to now more than 650 households annually.  Last year households received more than $1.65 million in refunds and saved an estimated $150,000 to $200,000 in tax preparation fees.  Eligible households also received information about federal benefits and other opportunities that could further leverage their income.  The growth of the tax site to what it is today could not have taken place without the financial support of individuals and businesses in our communities.  The gifts presented by Bank of the West (BOTW) will help cover costs related to tax site operations and outreach to help low and moderate income families in their efforts to achieve family economic stability and success.