AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program Begins

Annual Free Tax Return Assistance

A stack of tax papers, pencils, a smartphone calculator, and a sticky note that says "Need help?"

Tri-County Office on Aging (TCOA) and the AARP Foundation are partnering once again to provide free tax return assistance and preparation through the AARP Tax-Aide Program beginning January 28 through April 15, 2025. The Tax-Aide program is available to anyone, with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 or who have low to moderate income. You do not need to be an AARP member to receive an appointment. Your taxes will be completed and filed at this appointment.

Please note that appointments are required and may be made by calling TCOA at 517-887-1440. Appointments will be available Monday through Thursday at the TCOA office located at 5303 S. Cedar St., Building 1, Lansing, MI 48911 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Some tax returns are outside the scope of the Tax-Aide Program. If you have rental property, farmland, run a small business, receive a Schedule K-1, or have multiple transactions on an investment account, Tax-Aide may not be able to assist you with filing your tax return. For those tax situations, it is best to contact an alternative tax service.

There are Tax-Aide locations across the country. In the tri-county area, you may choose to have your taxes done at the following locations in addition to TCOA:

DeWitt Township Community Center

16101 Brook Road Lansing, MI 48906

517-668-0270 (Appointment required)

Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

East Lansing Public Library

950 Abbot Road East Lansing, MI 48823

517-351-2420 (Appointment required)

Tuesdays and Wednesdays

NorthWest Initiative

510 West Ottawa Street Lansing, MI 48933

517-999-2894 (Appointment required)

Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Windsor Township

300 West Jefferson Street Dimondale, Michigan 48821

517-646-0633 (Appointment required)

Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

2025 is the Year to Volunteer!

Is volunteering on your list of New Year's Resolutions? Do you want to make a positive impact in the year 2025? Or are you seeking opportunities to stay socially active in the cold, winter months? Consider volunteering with the Tri-County Office on Aging!

TCOA has a number of volunteer opportunities:

Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver nutritious meals to participants throughout Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. Before volunteering, applicants will work with a Meals on Wheels coordinator to find a route and schedule that suits them best.
Dining Site Helper: Dining site volunteers can help in many ways, from helping to dish up and serve food to greeting or assisting with paperwork at dining sites across the tri-county area. Many of our dining sites are entirely operated by volunteers; assistance is truly appreciated!
Central Kitchen Helper: Volunteers who donate their time in the TCOA central kitchen perform essential functions like portioning food into individual containers and assembling individual meals for distribution, which are delivered to our Congregate Dining and Home Delivered Meals participants.
Medicare-Medicaid Assistance Program Counselor: The Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) counselors speak with participants and hotline callers who have questions and concerns about Medicare, medical bills, long-term care insurance, Medigap, and Medicaid.
Health & Wellness Workshop Facilitator: Workshop volunteers facilitate evidence-based health and wellness programs by leading groups in the community. Training is provided.
Special Event Volunteer: Special Event volunteers, or “Friends for Independence” help to plan and/or participate in the annual Meals on Wheels Golf Outing and/or TCOA Dinner and Auction. Volunteers can solicit sponsors, secure prizes and items for live and silent auctions, assist with raffle sales, and/or volunteer on the event day.
Virtual Connections Mentor: TCOA has partnered with the MSU School of Social Work on a special project called Virtual Connections, funded by a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. This project aims to help older adults gain skills and confidence with their iPhone and Android smartphone use to aid in social connectedness and telehealth. TCOA is currently seeking volunteers to become trained as mentors for in-person workshops and in-home mentoring.

Click Here to Learn More

Upcoming Evidence-Based Workshops

We have a lot of options to keep you socially engaged this winter!

Powerful Tools for Caregivers (topic: self-care for caregivers)

Virtual via Zoom starting Wednesday, January 8 at 6:00pm
Delta Township Library starting Tuesday, April 8 at 1:30pm

Dementia Caregiving Series (topic: basic dementia education for anyone)

Dewitt District Library starting Tuesday, January 8 at 1:00pm
First Congregational Church of Eaton Rapids starting Tuesday, February 11 at 9:30am

Savvy Caregiver Program (topic: in-depth dementia education; eligibility: person with dementia cannot live in a 24/7 care facility.)

Virtual via Zoom starting Tuesday, February 4
Prime Time Seniors Program in East Lansing starting Thursday, March 20

Diabetes PATH (topic: diabetes management)

Mailed Tool Kit + Weekly Phone Calls starting on Thursday, January 9 at 11:00am (No in person meetings and no internet connection required!)
Delta 39'ers Enrichment Center in Lansing starting Wednesday, January 22 at 1:00pm

Matter of Balance (topic: fall prevention)

Delta 39'eres Enrichment Center starting Tuesday, January 14 at 9:30am

Walk with Ease (topic: walking program that includes stretching, health information, and motivational strategies)

Self-Directed: Available anytime
Self-Directed Enhanced: Lansing Mall in Lansing starting Wednesdsay, January 15

These workshops are FUN and provide education and support!

Check out TCOA's website for details. Pre-registration is required to attend these workshops. Please call Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1465 or email TCOA's Evidence-Based Programs Manager, Christine, at HistedC@tcoa.org .

Volunteer Spotlight

Introducing Shiny, one of TCOA's Virtual Connections Mentors! Shiny has been volunteering with the Virtual Connections program (a collaboration between TCOA and the MSU School of Social Work) since it's early days in May of 2024.

Shiny was raised in California and moved to Michigan with her family over 10 years ago, where she discovered seasons, trees (there are so many!), and lots of lovely lakes (there are even Great ones!) She has a background in adult education and worked in the tech industry for many years, so when she saw that TCOA was looking for tech mentors in 2024, she thought it would be a good fit.

Since Shiny started volunteering with Virtual Connections, she has volunteered at 3 sites and shares that she has had a great experience connecting with everyone while helping them figure out their Android and iPhone smartphones.

Educators like to say that they learn just as much from their students as their students learn from them, but in Shiny's case, she shares that she definitely feels that she gains more from the experience than the learners do.

Thank you Shiny for opening up a new, virtual world to so many, helping them gain greater access to healthcare resources and more!

For more information about volunteering please contact us at volunteer@tcoa.org or apply at tcoa.org/volunteer.

Employment Opportunities

We are looking for individuals to fill the positions below! Come work at Tri-County Office on Aging and join our mission to promote and preserve the independence and dignity of the aging population in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties. Currently, we are accepting applications for the following positions:

Dining Site Coordinator - Grange Acres in Haslett, MI

Dining Site Coordinator - South Brook Villa in Lansing, MI

Human Resources Coordinator in Lansing, MI

Meals on Wheels Support in Lansing, MI

Nutrition Office Assistant in Lansing, MI

Cook in Lansing, MI

Full-Time positions offer comprehensive benefits, including––but not limited to––medical, dental, vision, paid holidays, generous time off, and 100% employer-paid pension. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

TCOA is a qualified employer under the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Apply Online

Save the Date

The TCOA Office will be closed Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Photo of a snowman and a joke: Who is Frosty's favorite Aunt? Aunt Arctica.

TCOA's mission is to promote and preserve the independence and dignity of the aging population.

Tri-County Office on Aging

5303 S Cedar Street, Bldg 1

Lansing, MI 48911

TCOA.org