Programs
Our Goal: To make sure that every individual who is eligible for special tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, claim them as well as all qualified deductions. These tax credits can put additional money back into the hands of eligible taxpayers and back into our communities.
What is the VITA Program? The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help for low– to moderate–income (approximately $40,000 or less) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers, sponsored by various organizations, receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the county and then file the returns electronically at no charge to the client.
The IRS and the Georgetown County United Way have formed a partnership with the Mitney Project and the Carolina Human Reinvestment Program to implement this program. The IRS will provide a trainer to come to Georgetown and train our volunteers. The Georgetown County United Way is responsible for reaching out in the community to find volunteers to implement the program.
A collaborative effort of community health entities designed to form an on-going base of educational and financial support to promote health initiatives for our neighbors in Georgetown County.
Why Focus on Health?
Health is such a basic need; it impacts every aspect of a person's daily life. A child with a toothache is unable to concentrate in school and succeed. A family without health insurance is often overwhelmed to the point of bankruptcy by the financial burdens of an illness. Seniors without prescription assistance have to make frightening decisions on which medicine they can afford and which ones they will go without.
Whether it is a neighbor without health insurance, a victim of abuse, or someone struggling with mental illness or an addiction, Georgetown County United Way is collaborating with our community Health Partners such as Georgetown Hospital System, Dept. of Social Services, DHEC, local medical clinics and others, to ensure everyone has access to affordable and quality care so they can lead safe, healthy, and rewarding lives.
The funding for the Nell Jackson Health Initiative will help us advance this mission right here in our neighborhoods. This initiative will bring all of our partners together to determine our most urgent needs in Georgetown County so that collaboratively we can make a greater impact. As a funding partner of this initiative, you will receive a yearly report with information on the impact made during the previous year.
How the FamilyWize Card Works
Immediate Savings. The FamilyWize Prescription Drug Discount Card enables you to receive discounted pricing on prescription drugs. It can offer immediate savings on prescription drugs at participating pharmacies for people that have no health insurance, during deductible periods and for prescription medicine not covered by health insurance, Medicare and other benefit plans. This is not insurance, nor is it intended to replace insurance.
Show Your Card Every Time. Simply present your FamilyWize card with each prescription from your doctor to the participating pharmacy at the time of purchase to receive your discounts. If you need to transfer a prescription, bring your empty prescription bottle or label with you to the pharmacy. In some instances, the pharmacist may store your card information in their computer. However, to be certain you receive the maximum benefit, you need to show your card each time you have your prescriptions filled.
Save an average of up to 30% or more off the pharmacy's usual and customary retail price of prescription drugs, with the highest savings on generic drugs. Your cost will be the discount price with the FamilyWize card or the pharmacy's usual and customary retail price, whichever is lower. This means you are assured the lowest price in that store, at the time you purchase the prescription medicine. If the pharmacy's price is lower, there is no savings or discount and the FamilyWize card cannot lower the copay for medicine covered by insurance. You are responsible for the entire payment of the prescription drugs purchased after any discounts are applied, plus any dispensing fee.
What is AmeriCorps VISTA?
Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years.
What VISTA Members Do
VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. With passion, commitment, and hard work, VISTA members create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty
Georgetown County United Way AmeriCorps VISTA Collaborative Project.
Through this collaborative, five AmeriCorps VISTAs are working with 11 nonprofit agencies in Georgetown County in capacity-building efforts. Specifically, these VISTA members are developing or strengthening volunteer management systems at the agencies in which they are assigned & working on recruitment, orientation/training, monitoring/tracking, and recognition of volunteers. They are also working together to create a county-wide volunteer-management system for nonprofits that need such resources.
This is a three-year effort, renewable each year. The Georgetown County United Way is the project sponsor and has been assigned one full-time VISTA member. Participating organizations include the following that are "sharing" VISTA members in the following groups:
- Helping Hands of Georgetown; Miss Ruby?s Kids and The Salvation Army
- Tara Hall and the YMCA
- Friendship Place; Neighbor to Neighbor (Grace Ministries); and Smith Medical Clinic
- Georgetown County Parks & Recreation and Teach My People
2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code designated by the FCC for free access to health and human services information and referral. This easy to remember telephone number not only connects people with important community services, but also connects volunteers and donors with the opportunity to serve and give. 211 provides trained professionals to help people navigate the confusing maze of health and human services.
Dolly Parton Imagination Library brings a carefully selected, age-appropriate book to the home of a pre-school child (0-5) at no cost. Parents who sign up for this program are encouraged to read the books to their children. Reading regularly with children during pre-school years gives them the biggest boost toward a successful education that they can get.
