VITA spells relief for Goodwill filer

 6/18/2015

Vicki Mofadi

Vicki Mofadi is one of our utility processors in textiles at Goodwill Tulsa. She is a 60-year-old mother of four adult boys and grandmother of six with a lot on her mind lately due to some dramatic personal changes in her life. “It’s the third time I’ve had to literally start all over,” Vicki said.

However, she and her sister are “thinkers and inventors,” Vicki said, accustomed to trying to figure things out. When she talks, you can see her trying to keep track of it all, but smiling the whole time.

Vicki has a new place, but she is living out of boxes and sleeping on an army cot until she can afford to buy furniture. Then in early April, she had to go to Texas to help her parents. With all that is going on in her life, Vicki didn’t need the added pressure of tax season. She usually does her own taxes, but she just had not had the time — nor the money to have someone else prepare them for her.

Vicki knew of the free tax preparation services provided through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. VITA is coordinated locally through a coalition led by Tulsa Area United Way. So, she was so happy to see Goodwill was a VITA site this year. Being able to come in on a Saturday and get her federal and state tax returns filed for free, was a big relief for Vicki. (She was second in line and still felt nervous “because I don’t usually wait this late!”) She’d made the filing deadline and would get her refund as fast as possible, due to the work of the volunteers, who Vicki called “very accommodating, friendly and ready to help.”

She is going to spend her refund carefully, but Vicki is hoping she might have enough left over to go on a vacation with some friends.

A break Vicki could definitely use to clear her mind.

Vicki is one of the many individuals and families that Goodwill and the United Way helped this tax season. The VITA program prepared more than 2,200 tax returns, 40 percent more than last year. At Goodwill Tulsa’ site, volunteers completed nearly 200 returns and served nearly 200 Goodwill employees, program participants, neighbors and others from the area. The volunteers saved these families an estimated $40,000 in tax preparation fees, based on IRS estimates. They also returned so much more in refunds, EITC and other tax credits to our communities.

The ongoing generosity of our donors and customers will allow Goodwill to continue our involvement in VITA and keep promoting financial wellness, in general, in our community.