Social Services

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Village Super Market of Springfield Township, New Jersey, CMC Foods, and Gargiulo Produce are providing a drive through food distribution event to all Union County residents affected by COVID-19 on Saturday, March 20th. Click here or text “FindFood” for English, or text “Comida” for Spanish to 908 224 7776 to find helpful information quickly.

• When – Saturday, March 20th @ 8am.
• Where – Union County Vocational Technical School – 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 in the school parking lot.

Event Details

• First 1,500 vehicles will receive boxes of produce, dairy and shelf-stable food on a first come first served basis.
• One food distribution per vehicle, while supplies last.
• Please make sure to clear out the vehicle’s trunk prior to arrival to make room for food bags.
• Refrigerate any perishable items shortly after distribution.
• Bring one (1) proof of NJ residency, such as a utility bill, driver’s license, ID card, etc.
• Event will take place rain or shine.
• Click here to view and/or download the original event flyer in English and Spanish.
• With any questions, or for more information, please email the DHS Action Line or call them at 908 558 2288.

Seniors 75+ can access free, dedicated COVID-19 vaccine appointments in New Jersey by calling (856) 249-7007.

Please click here to view and/or download the informational flyer with additional details.

Catholic Charities launched a new program called Hope and Healing. The program enables individuals and families who have been impacted by COVID-19 to receive help from their crisis counselors. They also provide information and referrals to based on need as well as virtual workshops for the community. 

• Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer about this program in English and Spanish.
• Click here to view and/or download the program calendar.

The Union County Mobile Test Unit will be visiting to offer free COVID-19 Saliva tests to the public. All tests are conducted on a walk-up basis; no car is needed. No appointment needed. All Union County residents welcome. Results within 72 hours. 

Elizabeth

• Where: School #30 Chessie Dentley Roberts Academy located at 730 Pennsylvania Avenue
• When: Tuesday, March 2nd from 10am – 12pm
• More Details: Click here.

Roselle

• Where: Abraham Clark High School located at 122 East Sixth Avenue
• When: Thursday, March 4th from 10am – 12pm
• More Details: Click here.

See below information regarding Trinitas Vaccination Clinics. The next date available is Thursday March 4th at the Elizabeth High School Dunn Gymnasium. Please click here to go to the Trinitas COVID-19 Vaccine Waiting List Appointment Scheduler for residents of Union County. Trinitas will notify the individuals of a scheduled appointment as vaccine supplies are available and appointment slots exist. Please note that everyone must meet the eligibility criteria to receive the vaccine.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $57,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program offers free tax preparation to anyone, with a special focus on taxpayers who are 50 or older or who have low to moderate income.

The IRS provides a Find a Location for Free Tax Help page. The NJ 2-1-1 Partnership maintains a NJ Free Tax Assistance Locations page. South Jersey residents in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May and Cumberland Counties, as well as residents in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, can get tax preparation help from the non-profit Campaign for Working Families. Due to COVID-19, many tax preparation sites may be closed for an undetermined period.

Non-profits, advocacy groups and government agencies can participate in outreach efforts by promoting the NJ EITC Page and the NJ EITC Marketing Toolkit. Groups interested in conducting an outreach campaign or promoting EITC on social media should also visit the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Tax Credit Outreach Kit.

Employers are encouraged to distribute copies of “Have You Told Your Employees About the Earned Income Credit (EIC)?”, IRS Notice 1015. New Jersey employers must give written notice to employees. The New Jersey Division of Taxation also publishes a statement for employees.

Smartphone users can download IRS2Go, an official IRS mobile app. You can use it to check your tax refund status, find free tax preparation services, or even send a payment to Uncle Sam.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit for families and individuals who have income from employment. It increases the amount refunded to a taxpayer or reduces the amount of tax owed.

As of December 2020, about 25 million eligible workers and families received about $62 billion in EITC. The average amount of EITC received nationwide was almost $2500. However, the non-participation rate ranges from 17% (Vermont) to 27% (California), according to the latest available IRS statistics. You must file a tax return to claim your EITC. Twenty-nine states, including New Jersey, maintain their own EITC program. New Jersey expanded their program for the 2020 tax year by lowering the minimum age requirement from 25 years to 21. An estimated 58,000 young wage earners could now receive the EITC credit.

Income Limits and Maximum EITC Credits

EITC Assistant is an online tool to estimate if an individual or family may qualify by answering a number of questions. The IRS also publishes a one page fact sheet, IRS Notice 797 and a more detailed booklet, IRS Publication 596.

Free assistance to prepare and file your federal income tax return is available from a number of organizations and programs. United Way and H&R Block partner to offer MyFreeTaxes. All income levels are eligible to file both federal and state returns for free by using MyFreeTaxes.com.

Also available is Free File. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (AGI) is $72,000 or less qualify for any IRS Free File partners offer. To use Free File you must start by going to Free File. If you go to a company’s website first, you may be charged a fee.