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United Way offering free tax preparation
Elizabeth Waters
United Way of the Coastal Empire, Effingham Area Director Elizabeth Waters - photo by Mark Lastinger/staff
Submitted report
Effingham Herald
Published: Jan 28, 2020, 1:59 PM

Tax season is here but that doesn’t mean getting your taxes done has to be complicated, and it also doesn’t have to be expensive.

Over the past nine years, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Effingham County has partnered with Neighborhood Improvement Association to offer free federal and state income tax preparations to hardworking individuals and families by simplifying the tax filing process and helping them claim important tax credits through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.

Starting Monday, residents can drop off their tax paperwork at the United Way’s Effingham County Office in Rincon and IRS-certified volunteers will complete their tax return. 

Last year, VITA volunteers prepared over 350 tax returns for Effingham residents that resulted in more than $431,000 in total refunds.

Elizabeth Waters, director of United Way, stated that this year’s goal is to complete 400 personal tax returns for Effingham County residents.

“We are excited to see this free service grow in our community and look forward to what the future holds,” she said.

The VITA program offers free tax assistance to individuals who generally make $56,000 or less; persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance preparing their own returns. There is some flexibility with these qualifications so feel free to reach out to Neighborhood Improvement Association by visiting www.niacdc.org or calling 912-447-5577 for any additional information.


 
Effingham Donates 6,900 Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child
Cohen Busbee packs a shoebox with toys, school supplies and personal care items for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)
Updated: Nov 26, 2025, 7:11 PM
Published: Nov 25, 2025, 2:28 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Effingham County’s generosity will soon be felt across the globe. Local churches, civic groups and residents combined to donate 6,900 gift-filled shoeboxes this year for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers presents — along with a message of Christian faith — to children in need around the world.

Volunteers fuel  participation

Among those helping lead the effort are Pat and James McElveen, who serve as project leaders for First Baptist Church of Rincon. The couple collects items for their church year-round, coordinates volunteers and helps involve people of all ages in the packing process, including seniors, Bible school groups and individuals from the Low Country Down Syndrome Society.

Operation Christmas Child, operated by the Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, aims to share the Gospel while providing what may be a child’s first gift. Each shoebox contains a “WOW” item, along with other small toys, personal care items, school supplies and clothing. Last year, the organization delivered nearly 12 million shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

Operation Christmas Child
James and Pat McElveen (back row) stand with Cohen (left) and Asa Busbee in a room where shoeboxes have been packed for Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)

Churches, civic groups and residents all contribute

This year’s local total includes contributions from churches across the county — including First Baptist Rincon (5,100 shoeboxes) and Springfield Oaks (1,800 shoeboxes), which also serves as a drop-off site — along with Boy Scouts, high school groups and individual residents who pack boxes throughout the year. Pat said the wide community involvement is what makes the effort meaningful.

All 6,900 local boxes were delivered this week to Metter, where they will be transported to Atlanta for processing before being shipped around the world. Because many deliveries travel into remote regions, not every gift arrives by Christmas, and distributions continue throughout the year.

Once the shoeboxes reach their final destinations, each child receives both the gifts and a booklet explaining the Christian message in their language. For the McElveens and FBC Rincon, that message is at the heart of the project. ”It’s all about Jesus!”

With another successful collection completed, the McElveens say they are already preparing for next year and looking forward to the thousands of children who will once again open a shoebox packed by caring hands in Effingham County.