If your idea of ringing in the new year includes cleaning, organizing and streamlining, numerous local nonprofits are anxious to help you achieve that goal.
Not only are they happy to take unwanted holiday gifts and gently-used household items off your hands, but they hope to help charities realize every possible benefit from 2015 Arizona tax credits.
βThis is the third year the Arizona Foster Care Charitable Tax Credit has been in effect, so more and more people are understanding that they can give to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit,β said Angy Shearer, director of fund development for La Frontera Center/La Paloma Family Services. βPlus, now they can also give extra to qualified foster care agencies,β
The foster care tax credit allows a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $400 for singles and $800 for married couples on Arizona income taxes, while the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit allows a tax credit for up to $200 for singles and $400 for those filing jointly.
These tax credits must be paid to a qualifying organization (view online at www.azdor.gov/TaxCredits/QualifyingCharitableOrganizations.aspx) by Thursday and can be taken by qualified taxpayers in addition to school-related tax credits such as the Credit for Contributions to Private School Tuition Organizations and the Credit for Contributions Made or Fees Paid to a Public School.
Shearer said the funds garnered through tax credits have been vital to the stateβs stressed foster care organizations, which now serve about 17,000 children. La Paloma Family Services serves about 200 children daily through five group homes and a foster care program.
βThe state gives a small monthly stipend for each child, but it is really low. We use the tax credit money for all the items the state doesnβt cover, such as recreational activities and additional clothing. These funds give us the ability to get coats and warm clothing and other items if we need them immediately,β said Shearer.
La Paloma Family Services also plans to use the money to purchase an online reading assessment and tutoring program.
βLots of the kids in our group homes are at least three grades behind, and this will allow us to tutor them at a level they can understand. They are able to get online and do exercises at individualized levels, which helps them gain confidence and hopefully in the end will get them to where they need to be,β Shearer said.
Shearer hopes people will also remember La Paloma Family Services during year-end organization with donations of unwanted gift cards and/or household items such as twin-sized bedding, blankets and towels. New socks, underwear and clothing is also needed for children of all ages, along with toys, toiletries, luggage and books.
Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network also welcomes donations or βregiftedβ items β especially gift cards to Fryβs, Target and discount stores β along with blankets and jackets. Cleaning supplies, paper towels, toilet paper and facial tissues are needed as well.
βIf people received clothes that didnβt fit or a duplicate of an item and they want to make sure the gifts will go to a good cause, we will put them in the hands of someone who needs them and will appreciate them. Regifting is a great way to help people in need who are living on the margins and just trying to get by,β said Scott Blades, executive director of TIHAN.
TIHAN, which offers outreach and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS, is one of almost 700 qualifying organization for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit.
Blades said the dollar-for-dollar tax credit provides a unique incentive for Tucsonans to support charities.
βSo many people want to direct some of their tax dollars toward priorities that may or may not be in alignment with what the state of Arizona would necessarily use those tax dollars for, and this gives people the freedom to use $200 (or $400) to help address issues they care about and create solutions,β Blades said.
To facilitate additional solutions, Blades suggested making volunteerism a New Yearβs resolution.
βIt is a good time to think about sharing some time and blessings with others who might be in need,β he said.
