Volunteer Income Tax Assistance will bring dollars to local residents.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties has announced a partnership with Greenhouse Ministries to provide VITA sites, which opened January 17. VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, is a free service and will aide qualifying local residents (annual household incomes of $50,000 or less) in claiming their tax refund dollars.

Local banks have also partnered with the program, offering assistance with financial management and account services. Those banks that are involved include SunTrust Bank, Regions Bank, F&M Bank, Wilson Bank & Trust, FirstBank and First Tennessee Bank.

"We are excited to be able to partner with Greenhouse Ministries as well as the local financial institutions to identify a solution for an issue in our community," said Brian Hercules, President and CEO of the local United Way. "We realize that 66,000 households in our community qualify for the VITA service, and last year, $20 million in tax refund dollars went unclaimed in Rutherford County alone."

The sites are open Mondays from 9 AM - 8 PM, Tuesdays - Fridays 9 AM - 5 PM and Saturdays 9 AM - 2 PM. The service is available to both Rutherford and Cannon county residents. The VITA program will offer a site at the Cannon County Senior Center on February 25. Appointments are available by contacting Greenhouse Ministries at (615) 494-0499.

Read to Succeed's One Book program is also a partner of Greenhouse Ministries and the VITA program. For more information, please visit www.greenhousemin.org or www.uwrutherford.org.