Turn Your Time Into Impact
Volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and we believe that we support our community by offering community.
Together, we can build a stronger, healthier, and more resilient Mercer County.
Choose How You'd Like to Get Involved
Volunteerism not only brings about a positive impact on our community, but it also inspires personal happiness and joy. Volunteers are important partners in our work to build a stronger, thriving community – particularly for struggling families. Get involved, make a difference.
Visit Our Volunteer Portal
In order to participate in the opportunities offered on the Volunteer Portal you will have to create a login. The login is needed to:
- Make changes to your signup(s)
- Be informed of new opportunities
- To keep track of your volunteer hours
- Easy communication
For more information contact:
John Santana at 609-896-1912 or John.Santana@uwgmc.org
Help families and individuals earning under $67,000/year access free tax preparation and refunds that make a real difference. Last year, volunteers prepared 2,200+ returns, returning $2.3 million to our community, including Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC).
Many households we serve earn an average of $32,000/year, and refunds help cover essentials like food, housing, healthcare, childcare, and transportation. A completed tax return also unlocks access to school meals, health coverage, scholarships, and more—making it a vital step toward financial security.
Volunteer Benefits
- No prior tax experience needed
- IRS training and certification provided
- Flexible hours (3–4 hour blocks, evenings & Saturdays)
- Practical experience in customer service, collaboration, and management
- Resume building and networking opportunities
- College credit or Continuing Education credits for tax professionals
Roles Available
- Tax Preparer: prepare returns after training & certification
- Greeter: welcome clients and assist with intake forms
- Site Coordinator: manage tax site; prepare returns if certified
- Translator: assist Spanish-speaking clients
Requirements & Timeline
- Must be 16+ years old
- Volunteer dates: Feb 1–Apr 15, 2026
- IRS training begins Fall 2025; certification by Jan 15, 2026
- Tax sites across Mercer County (locations TBD)
Interested? Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form and help put money back into the hands of those who need it most!
Questions? Contact Bill Bright at taxcoordinator@uwgmc.org.
Help spread the word! Download the flyer.
Help stock a teacher’s closet with needed supplies. Mid-year, many classrooms begin running out of supplies and often, teachers use their own money to supplement much-needed necessities to aid in classroom activities.
Needed Items Include: Pens • Pencils • Markers • Crayons • Notebook paper • Notebooks • School scissors, craft supplies
See this page for more information – https://uwgmc.org/How-We-Help/Youth-Opportunity/Education-Kits/
Discovering the wonder of how something works can be the spark that ignites a child’s enthusiasm for learning. The world of science provides unlimited potential. In the time it takes to have lunch, employees can create a STEAM kit and help light that spark in a child’s imagination! A STEAM kit is comprised of a book, supplemental materials and all of the items necessary to complete an age appropriate science experiment. STEAM kits give teachers, child care workers and parents ready-to-use tools to unlock the possibilities for a child’s future in science, math and related fields.
Where
Your workplace or other group setting
When
Kit creation events can be set up anytime, anywhere. Help spark a child’s imagination right where you are!
Bullying is a problem that affects everyone. To end the cycle of bullying, children need to be taught empathy, kindness, tolerance and ethics. In the time it takes to have lunch, employees can create an Anti-bullying kit – an excellent resource for children and their parents to deal with this critical issue. An anti-bullying kit is comprised of an age-appropriate book with supplemental materials. Kits are distributed to United Way supported school-based programs that teach the importance of being an “upstander” against bullying. Anti-bullying kits give teachers, child care workers and parents ready-to-use tools to reinforce the important lessons around tolerance and understanding.
Where
Your workplace or other group setting
When
Kit creation events can be set up anytime, anywhere. Help children get the tools to end bullying!
Budget cuts have forced many schools to cut or eliminate arts programs, placing students at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving a full-rounded education and opportunities for success.
“At-risk students who have access to the arts in or out of school tend to have better academic results, better workforce opportunities, and more civic engagement… these and other positive outcomes are associated with high levels of arts exposure for youth of low socioeconomic status.” *
*The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth: Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies, National Endowment for the Arts. (NEA) www.arts.gov
Where
Your workplace or other group setting (Option – Grounds For Sculpture)
When
Kit creation event can be set up anytime, anywhere! Help spark a child’s imagination right where you are!
- 10/27- Week 1: VITA Basics (Intake, Interview & Quality Review)
- 11/3- Week 2: Filing Status and Dependents
- 11/10- Week 3: Income and Adjustments to Income
- 11/17- Week 4: Deductions, Non-Refundable Credits, Refundable Credits, Education Credits/Brief Introduction to NJ and PA state returns
- TaxWise How To’s (additional videos)
