MADISON-RIVERGATE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 
  CHURCHES IN THE NEWS

Madison First Baptist Offers Free Tax Preparation Service to Community

Madison First Baptist Church, together with the Nashville Wealth Building Alliance, is offering free tax preparation services to all individuals and families in Madison/Inglewood/Goodlettsville areas of East Nashville who earned $40,000 or less in 2007.

"We care about the needs of families in our community," said Pastor Barry Davis of Madison First. "The average household income in Madison is $30,000.  We want to make sure that Madison's working families are receiving all the tax credits they have earned.  Families should not have to pay hundreds of dollars in commercial tax preparation fees or be subjected to predatory 'rapid refund' loans to receive their tax refund. 

The Nashville Wealth Building Alliance (NWBA) sponsors the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. NWBA is a broad-based collaboration dedicated to promoting financial stability for low- and moderate-income individuals and families of Nashville/Davidson County. For Pastor Davis and the leadership of FB Madison the partnership was a natural fit.  "Our partnership with NWBA is just another way that our church is involved in helping families in the Madison community." In addition to participation in the VITA program, the church offers free computer training, job skills training, and financial counseling to the community.

The free tax service will be offered on February 9 and 16, March 8 and 15, and April 12 from 10am – 2pm, no appointment necessary in the church's computer learning center.  On these days free internet access will be available to individuals wanting to participate in the IRS "I Can E-File" program to complete their own return and e-file for free in the church's large computer lab.

Madison First will also sponsor a mobile tax preparation site at Old Hickory Estates on Cheyenne Blvd February 15 and March 14 from 9am – 7pm by appointment.

"Hosting a VITA site with the Nashville Wealth Building Alliance is just another way that we are showing God's love and our commitment to improving our community in real and practical ways," Pastor Davis said.

For more information about Madison First Baptist and their community outreach efforts visit http://www.madisonfirst.com

For information about the VITA program call the United Way at 211.

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"COMMON GROUND" Newsletter - August 2007
  Madison Ministerial Alliance

We invite you to enjoy "Common Ground," a newsletter from the Madison-Rivergate Area Chamber of Commerce about our growing Madison Ministerial Alliance.

The Chamber is committed to working with area churches to build a strong support base for our community.  If you would like to be a part of this effort, please let us know!