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Kelowna’s Income Tax Clinic Volunteers Help Community

Wan Wan is an energetic and highly organized volunteer at KCR Community Resources, where she serves as the United Against Discrimination Coordinator and leads the Canada Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). In addition to her role at KCR, Wan owns Hansen’s Classic Pizza and works as a CASI-certified Level 1 snowboard instructor. Her positivity, exceptional coordination skills, and dedication to serving the community make her an ideal leader for the CVITP, where she and her team of volunteers help community members file their taxes. Originally from Urumqi in northwest China, Wan has lived in the Central Okanagan for 15 years, moving there for university.

Filing taxes can be stressful, especially for vulnerable individuals, as it impacts their ability to access benefits and support. CVITP volunteers assist in sorting out these challenges and help people get their taxes back on track. During the pandemic, the team adapted to contact-free services, including virtual and phone support. Now moving back to in-person services, the local team has grown to over 10 volunteers from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, collectively speaking seven languages. While some are accounting professionals, others are simply community members who love to help.

In 2024, KCR volunteers helped over 900 community members prepare their tax returns and assisted clients with past-due taxes outside the regular tax season. KCR is actively recruiting incredible volunteers to join their team. If you’re interested in making a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of participants, consider volunteering for the Income Tax Clinic. Contact Wan at wan@kcr.ca to learn more about this rewarding opportunity.

Source: Kelowna Capital News