In partnership with the Food Band of New York City, Queens Defenders provided nearly 200 people with free tax assistance.
This initiative ran from February 2021 through May 2021, seven days a week. Residents from across the borough came to our Rockaway Community Justice Center for help with their taxes. Queens Defenders staff helped community members complete their taxes safely and securely.
The word quickly spread through the Rockaway community about this free service, which led to some much-needed relief for community members. One woman stopped by, unsure if she owed taxes or not. After her taxes were complete, she was pleasantly surprised to learn that she was entitled to a refund. She said, “You have no idea how much your team helped not only me, but the entire community with this service. The money I saved today will help me to buy food for my family.”
In addition to the money saved from this free tax service, many participants walked away with a free box of food from our food pantry. Queens Defenders is happy to serve our community members from free tax support to providing food justice to all.
Learn more about the supportive services we offer here.