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<TITLE>FW: Linking Free Tax Help with SNAP for community</TITLE>
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<P><B><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=4 FACE="Calibri">FYI</FONT></B>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Yasmin Reyazuddin</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Aging & Disability Services</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Montgomery County Government</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Department of Health & Human Services</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Rockville MD 20850</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">240-777-0311 (MC311)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">240-777-1556 (personal)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">240-777-1495 (fax)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">This message may contain protected health information or other information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this material.</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Thank you.</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">-----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">From: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">Lam, Betty </FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">Sent: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">Friday, February 17, 2012 9:06 AM</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">To: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">#HHS.ALL</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">Subject: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Tahoma">Linking Free Tax Help with SNAP for community</FONT>
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<P><B><FONT FACE="Arial">Maryland Hunger Solutions and Montgomery Department of Health & Human Services’ Community Action Agency</FONT></B>
<BR><B><FONT FACE="Arial">Join to Increase Access to “SNAP,” the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</FONT></B>
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<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Maryland Hunger Solutions’ volunteer-based program links “SNAP” (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) with free tax help at Community Action’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Takoma Park-East Silver Spring Center (TESS) and the Wheaton Services Center. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Community Action’s VITA partnership with Maryland Hunger Solutions emerged following last fall’s Montgomery County Faith-Based Hunger Summit, as Maryland Hunger Solutions and the Community Action Board presented data noting rising hunger and poverty in Montgomery since the recession. The most effective federal programs for reducing child poverty are the Earned Income Tax Credit and SNAP. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Following a successful model developed in DC, Maryland Hunger Solutions trained more than a dozen volunteers as “Outreach and Resource Navigators.” These navigators engage residents by pre-screening them to determine eligibility and assisting them with SNAP applications. Staff and volunteers have worked with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide additional resources, including food bank and emergency food information. They also make referrals to DHHS’ and Neighborhood Opportunity Networks locations when additional services are required.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Coupling SNAP outreach with VITA services improves access to both programs. The two County facilities are familiar to many residents, because both host public services and volunteer-supported partnerships with nonprofits.</FONT><B><I> <FONT FACE="Arial">All community members are welcome to drop in for Maryland Hunger Solutions’ volunteer-based SNAP application assistance.</FONT></I></B><I></I><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT></P>
<P><U><B><I><FONT FACE="Arial">*Takoma Park</FONT></I></B></U><B><I><FONT FACE="Arial"> site (TESS) offers Maryland Hunger solutions’ SNAP application help</FONT><U> <FONT FACE="Arial">Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 8:00pm</FONT></U><FONT FACE="Arial"> through April 10<SUP>th</SUP>.</FONT></I></B></P>
<P><B><I><U><FONT FACE="Arial">**Wheaton site</FONT></U><FONT FACE="Arial"> offers Maryland Hunger Solutions’ SNAP application help</FONT><U> <FONT FACE="Arial">Thursdays from 3:00pm to 8:00pm</FONT></U><FONT FACE="Arial"> through April 12<SUP>th</SUP>.</FONT></I></B></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">VITA sites serve families earning less than $50,000. To find a free tax help</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial">site in Montgomery County, please call 311. To make an appointment with Community Action’s VITA, you may use the online appointment system: </FONT></P>
<P><A HREF="https://server17.securedata-trans.com/ap/communityactionagencydhhs/index.php?page=10"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">https://server17.securedata-trans.com/ap/communityactionagencydhhs/index.php?page=10</FONT></U></A><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial"></FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Or, call</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial">a Community Action VITA site:</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">*Takoma Park/East Silver Spring 301-565-7675 </FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">**Wheaton 301-777-1123</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">City of Rockville 240-314-8310 </FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">City of Gaithersburg at Family Services, Inc. –</FONT><I> <FONT FACE="Arial">Appointments in Gaithersburg are full.</FONT></I>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">For more information, please contact Laura Flamm at </FONT><A HREF="mailto:lflamm@mdhungersolutions.org"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">lflamm@mdhungersolutions.org</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Arial">, 410-528-0021 x23 or Sharon Strauss, </FONT><A HREF="mailto:sharon.strauss@montgomerycountymd.gov"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">sharon.strauss@montgomerycountymd.gov</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Arial">, 240-777-1462. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2 COLOR="#000000"> <<FSP VITA Flier CAA2.pdf>> </FONT>
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