Opinion
www.SanTanSun.com
Feb. 6 - Feb. 19, 2016
45
Community Commentaries
Teaching gratitude to those in need Volunteers ready to help with free tax preparation average student 30 years ago. Our youth at ICAN face many harsh So what are we doing to teach our realities each day—living in poverty, ICAN youth these skills? We instituted a surrounded by crime. It’s a tough way service learning program. Youth work with to grow up and we do our our staff to choose projects best to create a nurturing where they actually go out environment at ICAN to in the community and give give youth the skills to make back to others who might also good choices for themselves. be in need. For example, we These kids come to ICAN for had some veterans and active free, and each holiday season duty military representatives they get the chance to feel come talk to our kids about pretty special. Special because service—what they do, what our generous community service means. They told throws them holiday parties them that they miss their kids and gives them gifts. This when they are away but that is a wonderful thing, but it’s important for them to do Becky Jackson. our prevention specialists this to keep all of us safe. Our Submitted photo noticed something interesting youth then wrote letters of a couple of holidays ago—a thanks to service men and sense of entitlement and lack of gratitude. women and sent those letters overseas. Yes, the youth at ICAN are like any other Another example is the “friendship youth—they struggle with these skills as coalition” we started with the YMCA and well. Shower them with holiday gifts and Boys & Girls Clubs—making and giving they may just want more (and not even say friendship bracelets to their youth who are “thanks”!!). in a similar situation to ICAN youth. It was upsetting, and our team decided Our most recent project was making and to do something about it. Empathy and decorating blankets for a local domestic gratitude are extremely important. We violence shelter. One of our teens helped teach life skills, decision making and goal with the project and he said to me, “Ms. setting to prevent substance abuse, gang Becky? Do other people do stuff like for activity and juvenile delinquency. We us??” His question made me smile—the decided that empathy and gratitude are just dots were connecting and the circle of as critical to our youth. gratitude began its completion. We want An article from New York Parenting talks our kids to experience the tangible benefits about these skills. Gratitude (which is selfof empathy and gratitude. focused) is when a person focuses on the How can you get involved in this positives in their life, which can result in program? We are often looking for small, personal happiness, optimism, lack of stress in-kind donations for our projects. Follow and satisfaction. Empathy (which is otherICAN on Facebook for updates on what we centered) is when you see life through the are in need of. Maybe you have an idea for lens of others, which is a skill in building a great project that promotes gratitude. Let healthy relationships and a better desire us know! Call (480) 821-4207 or email info@ to help and share. These skills are some of icanaz.org. We would love to hear from the greatest predictors for how successful a you! child will be in the 21st century. Unfortunately, youth today are lacking Becky Jackson is the president and CEO these skills. An article from Scientific of ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth. For American analyzes a study that concludes more information, visit www.facebook. that almost 75 percent of students today com/ICANAZ. rate themselves as less empathic than the
BY BECKY JACKSON
Share your opinion with SanTan Sun News! We know you have an opinion! Share it with the SanTan Sun News. Please keep your Letters to the Editor around 200-300 words, or they may be edited for length. Include your first and last name, community
or development name in Southern Chandler (Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun Groves, etc.) or ZIP code and daytime phone number for verification. Anonymous letters are not typically accepted. Email is the
first week of February and will run through April 15. There are five tax The City of Chandler is once again preparation sites in Chandler and one offering free tax preparation services in Sun Lakes. Each through the Volunteer site will be set up to Income Tax Assistance assist residents seeking (VITA) program. The VITA assistance on a walk-in program was formed in basis. Residents should 2004 to assist families come prepared with that earn $53,000 or less their W-2 and 1099 annually, the elderly and forms, photo ID, Social those with disabilities. Security cards for each Through this program, family member, tax residents can expect deduction and credit guidance in completing information and a copy the necessary forms to of last year’s tax return. maximize all allowable I’d like to personally deductions, without paying thank First Credit Union, for a private tax service. Councilman Rene Lopez. Chandler Christian The VITA program also Submitted photo Community Center, the focuses on the Earned Chandler CARE Center, Income Tax Credit, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and the a refundable tax credit for low to Chandler Hamilton Library Branch for moderate-income working families. opening their doors and providing space Families that earn up to $53,267 annually for these appointments. may qualify for a credit up to $6,242 This service would not be possible per household. Many residents are not without the collaboration of these aware that they may qualify for this tax community partners, the dedication credit, allowing millions of dollars to go of the many volunteers and City unclaimed each year. staff members. Their involvement is In partnership with the Internal instrumental in the success of Chandler’s Revenue Services, Chandler provided VITA program and keeping these dollars training to volunteers interested in in our community to ensure Chandler assisting our residents with filing their stays a great place to work, live and play. 2015 taxes. These volunteers are trained If your family is in need of assistance, and prepared to process most federal I encourage you to take advantage of this and state returns using the 1040 and great opportunity. 1040EZ forms, along with other related For more information and to find VITA documents. Last year, 370 residents site locations, visit www.chandleraz.gov/ participated in the program and a total VITA. of $729,717 in tax refunds was returned to Chandler residents. These returned Rene Lopez, whose term expires tax dollars can help these families with January 2019, can be reached at rene. everyday needs, special projects or lopez@chandleraz.gov. something special, such as vacations. The local economy also will benefit with money spent at Chandler businesses. Services will become available the
BY COUNCILMAN RENE LOPEZ
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