Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

Our VITA program is designed to serve low-income individuals, the disabled, the elderly and non-English speaking taxpayers. Coordinated by a part-time staff member, the program is offered on Sunday mornings and Monday evenings from January to mid April, free of charge. Every year volunteers are recruited by Burroughs and trained by the IRS. The program completed 525 tax returns in the spring of 2009, totaling more than $700,000 in refunds. In addition to filing returns at the Center two days a week, VITA To Go will bring our services to local employers, making free tax assistance more accessible to their employees. For more information contact Jason at (203) 334-0293.

Community Garden

Our Community Garden allows 18 neighborhood families to experience the joy of gardening. Growing their own fresh vegetables and eating healthy has been made more affordable for families struggling to make ends meet with the high cost of living in CT. Our members use two plots for educational and recreational gardening. Their vegetables and spices are used in the Kids in the Kitchen cooking program. The garden includes vegetables, herbs, flowers, butterflies, and in 2008 we were honored with winning first place in the Bridgeport Community Land Trust’s second annual Gardeners’ Contest. Burroughs placed top for “Garden With the Best Youth Plot”, “Most Butterfly-Friendly Garden”, “Garden With the Best Compost System” and “Best Themed Garden.” For more information contact Jason at (203) 334-0293.

Quick Start Language Center (QSLC)

The Language Center offers language lessons to any community member free of charge. Currently we offer 10 languages from English, and English from any language. The QSLC offers flexible schedules that allow people to learn at their own speed, on their own schedule, at no charge. Contact Program Director, Renzo Kian for more information at (203) 696-1309.