Real$ense Tax Blitz Day April 15th is that dreaded day each spring that strikes panic in the hearts of procrastinating taxpayers. By law, it is the last day for filing regular taxes. But, by the laws of nature, spring should be a season of hope and renewal, and this April 15th was just such a day for the 351 people who took advantage of the free tax preparation offered by the Real$ense Prosperity Campaign’s Tax Blitz Day at Gateway WorkSource on Norwood Avenue. (For complete Tax Blitz Day results, see totals in the accompanying informational box.) “WorkSource is to be commended,” said Jackie Lynn Coleman, Coordinator of the National Community Tax Coalition and Center for Economic Progress in Chicago, Illinois. “I’ve been all over the country and I have not seen that level of space dedicated to a program like this,” she said as she visited the Tax Blitz Day site with Kaye Schmitz, Executive Director of Real$ense and Michelle Braun, Community Chair for Real$ense and Southeast Community Relations Executive, Wachovia Bank. Having visited tax sites from Atlanta to San Antonio to New York City and many cities in between, Coleman and Project Manager Chris Gorman chose to come to Jacksonville’s Real$ense Tax Blitz Day because, according to Coleman, “Our intention was to visit a dynamic, well-organized program.We know Kaye Schmitz and what she’s done in Jacksonville. It’s flourishing and it is phenomenal.” Walking into WorkSource around 11:30 a.m., Coleman said she and Gorman found a welloiled machine at work. “The donated support Real$ense has from the community is almost unheard of,” Coleman exclaimed. “It was amazing to see such a slew of energetic, positive and dedicated volunteers in one place!” And, due to the efficiency of the volunteers at the check in table, Coleman noted that she observed another very unusual phenomenon at this particular Tax Blitz Day site. No lines. “There’s always a line at every site on Tax Blitz Day,” she said, “but every single person who came through the door was seen right away and even those directed to the waiting room were processed quickly.” One of those efficient Tax Blitz Day frontline greeters was AARP Tax Aide Volunteer Irene Sherry. Irene and her husband, Jim, raised four sons in Long Island, New York and always dreamed of traveling the country. When they both retired in 1998, they bought a travel trailer and followed their dream for nine years, then settled permanently in Jacksonville last year. Before long, Irene got an email from AARP Tax Aide District Coordinator Gene Bartels, asking for volunteers. “I took the 40 hour five day AARP Tax Aide training at Florida Coastal School of Law,” said Irene. “It’s a big responsibility, but I’m very glad I’ve been able to help.” There were approximately 25 AARP Tax Aide Volunteers on hand for the Real$ense Tax Blitz Day, and at least that many VITA Volunteers, many hailing from partnering organizations throughout the community. In charge of the VITA volunteers, and possibly the most mobile, active and energetic “go-to” person there, IRS Senior Tax Consultant Mark Browne (who has been known to slide into 1st base when playing softball) literally ran from cubicle to cubicle, from lobby to training room, and from the volunteer front line to the client waiting room, answering questions and solving problems left and right. “I’m completely awed by the number and caliber of volunteers we’ve been blessed with,” said Browne. “And, each year, thanks to the great organizational skills of Jeff Winkler, Associate Director of Real$ense, the process gets smoother, despite huge annual increases in the number of clients.” Kaye Schmitz confirmed Browne’s observation. “The number of people served by Real$ense each year has increased by more than 770%, so we feel like we’re finally making the kind of difference in the community we always believed we could.” Noting that close to 35,000 people have been helped with their taxes during the past five years, Schmitz adds that Real$ense clients, through its partner organizations Family Foundations, Fresh Ministries, NE FL Community Action Agency, the Duval County Extension Service, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Jacksonville Branch, and the Jacksonville Urban League, have also helped clients become homeowners, achieve higher education and start their own businesses through the IDA (Individual Development Account) matched savings program.