One of the Mission & Stewardship Committee's projects is support of the AARP Tax-Aide program in the Downriver area. The Tax-Aide program provides free income tax assistance for low and moderate income clients, many of whom are senior citizens. The program is staffed by volunteers and supported by donations and grants. For the last few years, the local Tax-Aide site has been located at the 37 North Church in Southgate. M&S donates funds to the 37 North Church to help defray expenses incurred in housing the program, such as facility use and maintenance and increased utility bills. 
     This year, 13 GIPCers were among the 33 volunteers who assisted clients with preparing and filing tax returns. Some are facilitators who set up appointments by phone, check in clients at their appointed times, verify IDs and arrange paperwork for the preparers. The preparers (or counselors) sit with the clients, talk with and interview them, and make the computer entries required to complete the returns. Every return is quality reviewed by a second counselor, or checker. The checker's responsibility is to confirm that each return is complete and accurate before it is electronically filed with the IRS and the State of Michigan. All volunteers are trained, tested, and certified according to IRS guidelines before they are allowed to work with clients. Volunteers must follow the rules and standards of conduct established by the IRS. Last year, an IRS inspector visited our site . . . scary at the time perhaps, but we passed with flying colors!

     In her summary of this year's tax season, the Local Coordinator of our Tax-Aide group, Karin Dean Kraft wrote:  "It's been a terrific tax season for our office. Many thanks to all of you for being such a TEAM . . . .  And we've all heard from our clients how appreciative they are of our service as well as for the kind and helpful way we treat them."

    Nearly 1300 returns were filed during this tax season. Our clients received over $700,000 in refunds and credits. Most of our clients are quick to express their heartfelt thanks. As a facilitator for a few years, I have experienced the angst of those who would rather be doing anything but taxes; have worked with clients whose understanding of English is limited; those who cannot see or hear well or need assistance in moving around as well as some who need to use our personal cell phones to call for rides home. We often hear about life experiences, along with anecdotes, jokes, and general discussions on many topics. It seems that we touch on all walks of life as we thread our way through the tax season. In the end though, it is most gratifying to realize that maybe we have done one little thing to help make another's experience meaningful and pleasant just because of the few moments we shared together.

                                                       - Sue Ashley
   p.s. In case you're wondering, 37 North Church, a Wesleyan Congregation, is so named because of its ready access to and from Interstate 75 via Exit 37 North  . . . (I know, I had to ask too!) Their Pastor Joy is a delight to know!

Don't let aging get you down--it's too difficult to get up again!                                           - Anonymous
   Americans, young and old, have a shared love affair with automobiles because of the freedom and mobility they offer but, when older folks are no longer able to drive, there is a serious risk for isolation to develop. Unwilling to be dependent on others, the very activities that have made their lives meaningful are suddenly curtailed. They are no longer able to socialize with friends and family, attend church, shop, participate in community events or meet their physical needs. There are a hundreds of retirement communities across our nation, designed specifically to meet the needs of senior citizens but 80% of older adults live in suburban and rural areas such as Grosse Ile where the two critical options necessary for aging in place are either limited or unavailable. These are adequate public transportation and having essential destinations located within walking distance of home. According to The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, by the year 2030, twenty five percent of this country's licensed drivers will be over the age of 65. Here are ways communities like ours can accommodate an aging population better:
* Help seniors to continue driving safely longer by issuing graduated driving licenses,  tailored to their abilities
* Modify roadways, signage and vehicles to enable partially impaired drivers
* Add more sidewalks and provide frequent resting places
* Improve the quality and variety of public transportation
* Recruit volunteer drivers to provide both on-demand and point-to-point transport
* Engage older citizens in a planning process to enhance civic life and lay the groundwork for more successful solutions.                                   - Chief Runamuck

   York Connection and the Inter-Faith Council encourage all adults to attend the last session of free programs presented by the HOPE Dementia Ministry LLC. A spiral-bound information booklet containing information covered during the presentation is available for $5.  
   Pain Management for Persons with Dementia: Pain has been under-recognized and under-treated; pain has been shown to be a common cause of changed behaviors; learn non-verbal pain cues; earn successful non-pharmacological interventions.
 Sat. June 11, 2016   9:00 to 11:30 am
Hosted by: St. Andre Bessette Parish 4250 W. Jefferson, Ecorse 48229
Contact: Pat Szymecko    313-383-8514  frontofficesab@yahoo.com