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United Way of Frederick County’s VITA Program

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers FREE tax return preparation for qualified individuals who had income less than $67,000 in 2024. We are committed to helping our ALICE neighbors with low and moderate incomes receive the refunds and tax credits they deserve.

VITA SITES OFFER FREE TAX HELP TO PEOPLE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE IN:

• People who generally make $67,000 or less
• Person with disabilities; and
• Limited English-speaking taxpayers

CALL 211 OR 866-411-6803 TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

TAX SEASON: JANUARY 27 – APRIL 15

Download PDF Here for more information

Krista Zodet of Ijamsville, Maryland, has joined the Board of Directors of Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County.

A highly experienced nonprofit executive with a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades in the life sciences sector, Krista is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the HealthWell Foundation where her responsibilities included overseeing substantial administrative and operational budgets while cultivating a positive and inclusive work environment. 

Krista earned a Master of Social Work with a specialization in Aging from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. During her graduate studies, she gained practical experience through a practicum at the Office of Services to the Aging in Lansing, Michigan. Upon graduation, she joined the Michigan Peer Review Organization, where her roles included educating beneficiaries, advocates, social workers, and providers on patient rights and responsibilities within the Medicare framework. She also actively participated in the design, implementation, and monitoring of quality improvement projects for Medicare-certified hospitals and the production of informative clinical articles, reports, and newsletters.

Advocates is excited to welcome Krista to the Board of Directors and to put her knowledge and experience to work on behalf of Frederick County residents.

myMDTHINK’s updated, easy-to-use Benefits Screener allows new applicants and current Maryland benefit customers to check and see if they’re eligible for benefits like food assistance, cash assistance, energy bill support, and medical cost help – all in one quick step.
Ready to go? Click here to get started.

Click here to visit the myMDTHINK Programs & Services Portal.

Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County has received a $5,000
gift from the William E. Cross Foundation for use in community services.
The Board of Directors of AAFC designates this funding to the AERS Fund,
supporting the unfunded needs of the county’s low-income and fragile
seniors.

The Cross Foundation was created in 2002 by William E. Cross, a
civilian engineer with the Department of the US Navy as well as a well-
known Montgomery County businessman who owned and operated the
Cider Barrel, a landmark on Route 355 in Germantown, and a trailer park in
the surrounding area. After the death of his wife, Eleanor, in 2000, Mr.
Cross sold his properties and formed the foundation that bears his name.
He passed away in 2010, leaving a significant legacy through the ongoing
community work made possible through the Cross Foundation.

Advocates for the Aging will use the Cross Foundation gift to fund the
needs of low-income seniors as requested through the AERS (Adult
Evaluation & Review Services) Program of the Frederick County Health
Department. AERS nurses and social workers make requests to meet
unfunded needs that can help clients age in place safely with the best
possible quality of life and care.

United Way Frederick County:

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5! Don’t let transportation barriers prevent you from making your voice heard.

United Way of Frederick County believes in the importance of voting to lift up all of our voices and strengthen our communities. We understand there are many barriers to voting, especially for ALICE voters, but we are committed to removing transportation as a barrier this election cycle.

Along with our partners Rides for Good of the Safe Ride Foundation and Transit Services of Frederick County, we encourage you to use the resources below to plan for your transportation on Election Day, November 5.

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We encourage you to utilize Transit to access your polling place when at all possible. Transit is FREE to ride and a list of available routes to polling places is below.

If Transit is not available to you, please complete the form below no later than 12 PM on Monday, November 4. Rides requested using the form above AFTER 12 PM on 11/4 are not guaranteed and will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

After completing the form, a United Way staff member will be in touch to help you navigate the best transportation option. Rides will be provided through United Way of Frederick County’s RUN program or the Safe Ride Foundation’s Rides for Good program.

*Roundtrip transportation to your polling place and back is available using these options. Rides are FREE up to $26 each way when using RUN or Rides for Good. Rides are always FREE when using Transit.

AAFC has received a $20,000 grant from the City of Frederick

Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County has recently been awarded a $20,000 grant from the City of Frederick to enhance their Assistive Devices Program, which helps low-income seniors age in place. This program provides essential and medically necessary assistive devices such as ramps, grab bars, and mobility aids to ensure safety and ease in daily living. The grant will enable the purchase of approximately 300 devices, assisting over 250 seniors, with around 165 being city residents. The initiative is particularly impactful for seniors in economically disadvantaged communities, including communities of color, where Advocates continues to break down language barriers.

Since its inception in September 2021, the Assistive Devices Program has successfully placed over 1,100 devices in homes, benefiting more than 575 seniors. Through partnerships with healthcare, social services, and local organizations, Advocates conducts ongoing outreach to reach those in need. Melanie Cox, President of the Advocates Board, highlights the program’s vital role in improving housing accessibility and allowing seniors to live independently in their neighborhoods, rather than in age-restricted housing.

News Release

Frederick, MD —  Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County  has received a $20,000 grant from the City of Frederick supporting Advocates’ Assistive Devices Program for low-income seniors in both rental and resident-owned housing.

The Assistive Devices Program provides and installs appropriate and medically necessary assistive devices for the bathroom and bedroom, for mobility, ramps, recliners, grab bars, special grab bars, and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) without cost to low-income seniors who are residents of Frederick County, who meet agreement criteria and compliance, including income guidelines. Based on previous fiscal year figures, the City’s grant, made through the Community Promotion Grants Program, will fund the purchase of approximately 300 assistive devices to serve 250+ individuals, of whom approximately 165 would be City residents, for approximately one quarter (3 months) of the 2024-25 fiscal year. 

Click here to read the full news release!