Tax season is eased with volunteer assistance

Cornwall Manor is blessed to have a community of diverse and talented residents – and luckily during tax season, some of our residents share their knowledge and assist people with preparing and filing their tax returns.

Dorothy Wychock, who moved to Cornwall Manor with her husband Joe from Hummelstown, PA in 2015, has been volunteering for the AARP Tax-Aide program in Hershey for eight years. Dottie received her Associates Degree in Business Administration from Luzerne County Community College, and had been a bookkeeper prior to her retirement. Dottie is one of 24 Tax-Aide volunteers who offer their services at the Mohler Senior Center in Hershey from February through April. She is at the Mohler Center three days a week during tax season.

When asked why she volunteers to assist people with their taxes, she said “I just like working with numbers!” During her eight years as a volunteer tax preparer, she has experienced many interesting encounters, including a woman who showed up with four shopping bags, numerous boxes and a suitcase filled with receipts!

Cornwall Manor has other residents who also volunteer their time to assist individuals with their tax returns, including Kem Hoffer (who also volunteers with the APPRISE program to assist people with Medicare and Medicare Advantage enrollment).

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is the largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service in the nation. In Lebanon County, there are four Tax-Aide sites, and this year the service will be offered to Cornwall Manor residents on-site. Volunteer tax preparers through AARP’s Tax-Aide program will be at Cornwall Manor in February and March.