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WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - On Halloween, Thursday, October 31st, Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR), in conjunction with Mechanics & Farmers Bank and its community partners, proudly hosted their 1st annual Trunk or Treat event at Mechanics & Farmers Bank, located at 770 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem, NC. This fun-filled afternoon invited families to enjoy a safe and festive Halloween experience while learning more about the important work ESR does. "I’m here to provide the kids with a safe place to come and engage with other community members while collecting candy," said Chief William H. Penn, an ESR Board Member and Chief of the Winston-Salem Police Department. "We are celebrating Halloween in a fun, safe environment, and all the participating community agencies not only talk about loving kids but also demonstrate it by engaging with them. "Trunk-or-treat events are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. Parents of young children especially appreciate these Halloween gatherings. Families can stroll among cars decorated for Halloween and let their children experience the excitement of trick-or-treating without the stress of navigating their neighborhoods. Little ghosts and goblins can put on their costumes and collect candy without getting tired. "It’s wonderful to see a community come together to support one another, and to watch children enjoy themselves, knowing there are people who stand behind them and their families is powerful, especially in this community," shared Dr. Phygenia Young, another ESR Board member. Through this event, we were able to provide a fun experience and delicious candy to many children and families, thanks to our community partners, which included Mechanics & Farmers Bank, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department, the Winston-Salem Police Department, Sifted Sugar, Inc., United Way, the Delta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the Children’s Law Center, and the ScottCares Foundation. As ESR celebrates 60 years of serving this community, these efforts enable us to continue providing essential services to clients and fulfill our goal of facilitating access to education, homeownership, and free tax preparation for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. Experiment in Self-Reliance is a non-profit agency chartered in 1964 and has been supporting the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community for over 60 years. Our mission is to empower social and economic self-reliance for low-income and homeless individuals. We are dedicated to creating a judgment-free zone and treating everyone with respect, all while pursuing our vision of reducing poverty and homelessness in our community. To learn more or make a donation, visit us at  www.eisr.org  or give us a call at 336 722-9400. #END

On Monday, March 25th, St. Leo's provided food to 25 ESR families.  Each family was given either a turkey or ham of their choosing and food items needed for Easter dinner to feed their families, along with Easter baskets and or/easter candy items to families with school-aged children.  Goodwill Industries also worked in collaboration with ESR to pick up and deliver the items to our location.  St. Leo's has been a partner with ESR for several years and hosts sponsorships for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas to some of the client families we serve. We are grateful for their continued support and partnership over the years.

ESR's Forsyth Free Tax Program was featured on WXII 12 News for the 2024 tax season. Program assistant, Allison Lizotte spoke about the programs general information, requirements, and the impact this service has on our clients and the community. A very special thank you to our program manager, Cherie Ingram, program assistant, Allison Lizotte, and all of our VITA volunteers! Note: (Incorrect spelling of ESR in the video is no fault of our own. We have made WXII aware of this mistake and corrections of our name in the article are in process of being fixed.)

Experiment in Self-Reliance Empowering Strength & Resilience New Century IDA | Asset Building | Home Ownership | Small Business Forsyth Free Tax Free tax preparation each year for low-to-moderate income residents Self-Sufficiency One-on-one counseling to help meet your goals and reach economic self-reliance. Latest News and Stories ESR Joins M&F Bank for Trunk or Treat WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - On Halloween, Thursday, October 31st, Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR), in conjunction with Mechanics &... Saint Leo's Donates Easter Meals to ESR Families On Monday, March 25th, St. Leo's provided food to 25 ESR families. Each family was given either a turkey or ham of their choosing and... WXII features Forsyth Free Tax ESR's Forsyth Free Tax Program was featured on WXII 12 News for the 2024 tax season. Program assistant, Allison Lizotte spoke about the... Read More We believe in creating a judgment-free zone where everyone is treated with respect, dignity, and compassion. Our goal is to help everyone achieve their fullest potential. Our Commitment to Empowering Social and Economic Self-Reliance Upcoming Events and Workshops No events at the moment Join Us in Empowering Our Community Empower Social and Economic Self-Reliance Donate Now

Forsyth Free Tax Forsyth Free Tax Program ESR’s Forsyth Free Tax program provides free tax preparation to people with low-moderate income. If you make less than $67,000, you can have your taxes prepared for free through volunteer sites. Income tax returns are prepared by volunteers who are IRS-trained and certified every year and adhere to IRS standards of conduct. Tax returns are electronically filed and refunds (if expected) may be directly deposited to taxpayer bank accounts, ensuring a faster refund. This year, there are two Forsyth Free Tax VITA sites: ESR is located at 3480 Dominion Street, Winston-Salem. Tax services begin Monday, January 27, 2025, through April 15, 2025. Mondays - Thursdays: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Fridays - 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. ESR is a WALK-IN-ONLY site this year. Returns will be prepared on a first-come, first-served basis. Forsyth County Public Library , located at 660 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem. Tax preparation services at the library begin on Saturday, February 1, 2025, and end on April 12, 2025. Saturdays only, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This site is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. To have your taxes prepared, you will need to bring: Tax information (W2s, 1099s, receipts for childcare or education expenses, interest statements, and other tax documents). Form 1095-A if healthcare coverage is through healthcare.gov. Last year’s return, if possible. Photo Identification. Social Security Cards or ITIN for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents (We cannot accept SSNs not appearing on official documentation). Bank Routing Number and Account Number(s) for direct deposit. CP01A Notice – IP pin (Identity Protection pin) Please complete this document prior to arriving to your first appointment, if at all possible For more information about filing your taxes, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or give us a call at 336 - 722 - 9400. For information on volunteer opportunities with the tax program, fill out the form below. Forsyth Free Tax Volunteer Interest Form First name Last name Email Phone I am interested in volunteering with Forsyth Free Tax Submit Thanks for submitting! Related Links irs.gov Publication 3676-A : IRS document on VITA tax preparation in English and Spanish

Tax FAQ Have a question about filing your tax return? We can help! Here are our Frequently Asked Questions. Have additional questions? Give us a call at 336-722-9400 . Question: Am I required to file a tax return? Answer: To determine if you are required to file a tax return will depend on several factors, including your age, gross income, filing status, and if you are a dependent on someone else’s tax return. To get more specific information on who must file, check out IRS Publication 501. Question: What is the difference between the standard deduction and itemized deduction? Answer: A standard deduction is a fixed dollar amount based on the taxpayer’s filing status that lowers the taxpayer’s taxable income. The standard deduction is a benefit that eliminates the need for taxpayers to itemize deductions such as medical expenses, mortgage interest, and charitable contributions. Itemized deduction allows taxpayers to reduce their taxable income based on specific personal expenses such as medical expenses, mortgage interest, and charitable contributions. Most taxpayers have a choice of either taking a standard deduction or itemized deduction whichever gives the taxpayer the lower taxable income and lower tax amount. Question: Will I receive a tax form if I had a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace? Answer: If a taxpayer or anyone in the taxpayer’s household is enrolled in a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace, Form 1095-A will be issued. This form will be mailed from the Health Insurance Marketplace and not the IRS. If you have not received Form 1095-A, contact the Health Insurance Marketplace (800-318-2596) or visit the website https://www.healthcare.gov/. Question: What do I do if I have been a victim of identity theft? Answer: If you have been a victim of identity theft, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490 extension 245 immediately. Question: When are tax returns due for the tax year 2024? Answer: Taxpayers will have until Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 to file their 2024 tax returns. Question: How can I check the status of my tax refund? Answer: The taxpayer can check the status of a tax refund by using the Where’s My Refund? tool (https://www.irs.gov/refunds). Where’s My Refund? tells the taxpayer if their tax return has been received and if the IRS has approved their tax return and/or sent the taxpayer their tax refund. Question: What if I am unable to pay the taxes that I owe? Answer: It’s important that taxpayers still file a tax return even if the taxpayer is unable to pay the taxes owed. Failing to file a tax return will result in penalties and interest. If the taxpayer is unable to pay taxes owed, the IRS has multiple payment options including installment agreements. For additional information, taxpayers may call (800-829-1040) or visit the IRS website .