The Community Action Planning Council is offering free income tax preparation to low-income households in Jefferson County. Filing a tax return is as easy as making an appointment to meet with an IRS‐certified volunteerwho will provide basic income tax return preparation. Well‐trained, experienced tax preparers are knowledgeable about special tax credits, including Earned Income Tax Credit. Electronic filing is available.

For additional information, call the Family Center at 315.782.4900, ext. 271.

Tax preparers will be available by appointment only at the following locations:

Community Action Planning Council ‐ 518 Davidson Street Watertown
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 9 AM to 2 PM - January 30 through April 13, 2012

Flower Memorial Library – 229 Washington Street Watertown
Saturdays, 9 AM to 2 PM – February 4 through April 7, 2012

The American Legion ‐ 415 West Street Carthage
Call 315.493.1545 for an appointment.  February 7 through April 10, 2012

Paynter Senior Center ‐ 914 Strawberry Lane Clayton
Call 315.686.3553 for an appointment. Wednesdays, February 22 & March 7, 2012
(More dates may be scheduled based on need.)

The Jefferson-Lewis Childcare Project is committed to meeting the training needs of child care providers by offering an array of workshops. Click here for the Spring 2012 Workshop Training Schedule and Registration Form. You will find a number of interesting workshops to choose from, including Health and Safety, Dealing with Rivalry and Bullying in Child Care and Mind in the Making: the Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs.

Save the date – 21^st Annual Bright Beginnings Community Child Care Conference – May 5, 2012.
Details coming soon.

For more information about child care provider education, contact Angie at 315-782-4900, ext 239.

The Watertown Head Start Parent Committee is conducting a diaper drive in support of the Community Action Planning Council Food Pantry.  Diapers are needed in all sizes.   Visit one of the following Watertown businesses and make a diaper donation to support a low-income family.  Diapers will be collected through March 7, 2012.

• Asbury United Methodist Church
• Avon Shoes
• Bethany United Methodist Church
• Cheney Tire
• Community Action Planning Council Food Pantry
• Flower Memorial Library
• Hilltop Apartments
• Holy Family Church
• LeRay Street Apartments
• Skyline Apartments
• Stream International
• YMCA

Each Head Start Center is home to a Parent Committee.  Meetings are held monthly throughout the school year, during which parents and children enjoy fun and educational activities together.  Parent Committees routinely participate in activities and special projects that support the community at large.  We are fortunate – and grateful – for the strong support and participation of our Head Start Parent Committees.  Please help them make this diaper drive a great success!  For more information about Head Start, contact 315.782.4900, ext. 236.

Retailer Five Below partnered with the Community Action Planning Council on a unique fundraiser during which customers presented specially-designed flyers that designated 10% of their total purchases in support of the agency.  Pete Matthewson, general manager for Watertown’s Five Below store, recently visited the Community Action Planning Council and presented a check to Dawn Cole, deputy director.  Many thanks to the management, staff and customers of Five Below for their participation!

Members of the NYS Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) from the Watertown Correctional Facility made a donation of $1,000 to the Community Action Planning Council in support of holiday gifts for children. The donation was inspired by an appeal made by Senator Patty Ritchie in which she urged the local community to support charities that distribute Christmas gifts to children of low-income families.  When representatives from CAPC visited Senator Ritchie’s district office in Watertown to pick up toys, they were greeted by NYSCOPBA officers from the Watertown Correctional Facility who presented the check.  Watertown Correctional Facility NYSCOPBA members have recently donated a total of $5,700 in support of charities, including Hospice of Jefferson County, the Children’s Miracle Network, Meals on Wheels, the Carthage Area Hospital and Watertown Urban Mission.

Pictured (from left):  Officer Edward Jewett, NYSCOPBA Watertown Correctional Facility Chief Sector Steward, Sharon Bouchard, CAPC Family Center Director, and Sergeant Steven LaPlaca, NYSCOPBA Watertown Correctional Facility Treasurer.

The Wladis Law Firm (East Syracuse, NY) made a gift of $500 and food and personal items in support of the Community Action Planning Council Food Pantry.

Pictured, from left: Mark Wladis, Jennifer Granzow, Wladis Law Firm, Sharon Bouchard, CAPC Family Center director, and Leann West, Wladis Law Firm.

Throughout the year, staff members at the Community Action Planning Council sent care packages to the men and women of Alpha Company, 277 ASB, TF Mountain Eagle, serving in Afghanistan.  The platoon was honored during a special luncheon at CAPC on December 5.  CAPC extends deep appreciation to these brave soldiers for their service to their country.  Welcome home!

CAPC Executive Director Melinda Gault presents recognition plaque to Staff Sergeant Bernal, Fort Drum.

Watertown Elks Lodge #496 provided 130 winter coats to children of low‐income families served by the Community Action Planning Council. Now in its fifteenth year, the “Coats for Kids” initiative was made possible by a grant from the National Elks Foundation and donations from members of Watertown Elks Lodge #496. Kmart offered discounted pricing on the coats that were purchased and delivered to CAPC by members of the Elks Lodge.

Pictured (from left): Watertown Elks Lodge #496 Officers, Raymond Cooley, Paul Nutting, Michael Forcier and Kathy Converse, present winter coats to children at the Community Action Planning Council.

Inspired by an article in the Readers Digest, Peggy Liptrott and her daughter Diana, of Sackets Harbor, started a local initiative modeled after the national charity known as Loved Twice.  For the past several months, Peggy and Diana have visited garage sales and consignment shops insearch of gently used baby clothing.  The clothes were then sorted into boy and girl one-year wardrobes-in-a-box and delivered to the Community Action Planning Council for distribution to low-income families.  Each box contains approximately 75 items, including clothing ranging from newborn to 12 months, blankets, hats, bibs, and board books.  For more information, contact Mary Jane Matthewson at 315-782-4900.

Pictured (from left): Jennifer Todd, Diana Liptrott, Loved Twice volunteers and Mary Jane Matthewson, CAPC Family Center coordinator.