Success and Spirit in Southwest Louisville
By Kelly Thompson, Director of Engagement Initiatives
If you live in the Louisville-area and don’t know about the great things going on in southwest part of Jefferson County prepare yourself to be amazed at the growing community pride brewing in neighborhoods like Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, Fairdale, and Shively. The establishment of the Southwest Dream Team is one of the many new movements sparking a renaissance of community pride and civic involvement taking the area by storm.
Over a year ago I did a video story on Jim and Kathy Pullen from Southwest Louisville VITA site or the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site run by Louisville Asset Building Coalition. Jim and Kathy are a great example of the kind of people that are making places like Southwest Louisville.
Here is what Jim and Kathy have to say today about their experience being volunteers for such a vital community program:
I wanted to take a minute to write about a community of volunteers. My husband and I are site coordinators for the Southwest VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) site. The people of our community have done a tremendous job of stepping up to provide this needed tax service. We are open almost 30 hours each week including Sat. Over 20 volunteers have donated countless hours each week since Jan. 19 to make this happen. Actually, we have counted those hours…..over 1800! They even came out when the roads were bad and schools were closed.
Many of our volunteers also find time to help other non-profit organizations. One of our volunteers found herself unemployed and decided to spend her ‘free’ time helping others. Another works in our area but lives in another part of the county. He stops one evening each week on his way home to help and even comes back of Saturdays!
Although it’s been an exhausting experience, we leave everyday proud to be a part of Southwest Jefferson County. We are a community of people who cares about our neighbors and demonstrates that caring through our actions. We will have provided free tax preparation to over 1000 people by the time we close our doors on April 15. A feat that is only made possible because we have a community of volunteers in Southwest Jefferson County.
Jim and Kathy Pullen
Site Coordinators
Southwest VITA
