CASH is a tax program run by Madison House, the independent volunteer center for UVA students. The program is run in partnership with the local United Way. It is designed to help low-income workers file their taxes and maximize their refunds. “We receive tax documents from local Charlottesville community members making under $57,000 a year,” Hedgecock said. “Then we will prepare the tax forms for them, run them through their refund, make sure it’s checked several times to ensure accuracy and really explain why they are getting a refund or not.”

In order to provide tax assistance, a certification is required. Madison House's CASH program trains students to qualify for the highest level of certification.

COVID-19 has reframed how CASH provides its services and demonstrated ways to make volunteering more equitable, especially for clients who might have difficulty traveling to an in-person consultation.

Read the rest of this UVA Today story here.