United Way’s Taxes Filed Free Program

United Way of Palm Beach County has partnered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide free, confidential, and secure preparation and e-filing of tax returns to qualified taxpayers. To qualify, taxpayer’s income must have been $70,000 or less in 2022. You may be eligible for up to $6,935 in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC). The Taxes Filed Free service gives you two options to choose from to e-file your tax return. All options are supported by IRS-Certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers.

Filed for You – Face-to-face tax preparation provided at several county sites. No appointment needed.

Filed Yourself – Visit www.MyFreeTaxes.com and file your own tax return. It’s simple, fast and secure. Support is available via toll-free helpline or web chat.

For more information on where to find a VITA tax site, or what to bring to your tax filing session click here.

Food Resources

Palm Beach County Senior Centers: The Palm Beach County Community Services Department’s Division of Senior and Veteran Services invites local seniors and veterans aged 60 and older to participate in complimentary breakfast and lunch options at various sites throughout the county. The program provides nutritious meals to eligible seniors at nutrition sites, senior centers, and other group settings. The congregate meal program allows older adults to socialize with other seniors at the meal sites. For a complete list of meal times and locations, click here.

SNAP Online Shopping: Online shopping is a convenient, safe, secure way to shop for food, and quickly becoming a vital resource for nutrition security and food access. Major retailers nationwide continue to make online SNAP purchasing available for EBT card holders. For more information about the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot and to find a retailer in Florida offering this resource, click here.

School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC) FREE Meals: School breakfasts and lunches are now free for ALL children in schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program with SDPBC. Your children can eat delicious, nutritious breakfasts and lunch at school every day of the school week! Click here to check out the menu for your school.

Instacart Now Accepting SNAP: SNAP benefits can be used to buy groceries at participating stores using Instacart. Delivery is free on the first three orders over $35 when using SNAP, through 12/31/22. To learn more, click here.

DoorDash Project DASH: DoorDash has delivered over 25 million meals since 2018 through Project DASH. Project DASH helps non-profits deliver meals, groceries, and more to people with limited transportation. Please click here to learn more about Project DASH and how you can participate.

United Way of Palm Beach County Food Finder Map: The best way to access emergency food is through your local food pantry. UWPBC’s Food Finder Map is updated weekly and has been viewed over 236,000 times! Anyone looking for food or helping others find food is encouraged to look up locations on the map. You can also get help finding food locations by calling 2-1-1.

A robust food pantry system is the best way to ensure people can access emergency food. Pantries rely mainly on food from local food banks and other donations. Inflation and the end of many COVID-era food programs have decreased contributions and food available through the emergency food system. You can learn how to support your local food bank and pantry system through food donations here.

Food Programs

SNAP Communications Toolkit: SNAP Feeds Our Community Campaign (SNAPFeeds.us) has put together a Communications Toolkit for individuals and agencies to uplift SNAP’s many positive impacts on individuals, families, and the community. Access the Toolkit here.

Non-Citizens Reinforced Nutrition Service Programs: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently launched a new webpage for non-citizens and their families that reinforces that families should access the nutrition programs for which they are eligible. This is a helpful one-stop-shop that anti-hunger stakeholders and families can use for key program and eligibility information, as well as how participation in federal nutrition programs has no bearing in a public charge determination.

Partner Spotlight: First Haitian Baptist Church

First Haitian Baptist Church Ground Breaking Ceremony: UWPBC Hunger Relief Staff had the opportunity to partake in First Haitian Baptist Church’s ground breaking ceremony for their Child Enrichment Center on December 11, 2022. A new facility will be constructed in response to the growth and needs of the more than 100 Belle Glade children who benefit from educational, cultural, and wellness programming. Executed plans include classrooms, a kitchen to improve meal service for all participating children, restrooms, an all-purpose room, and storage.

For more information on the enrichment center and how to donate, email Pastor Morana St. Hilaire.