Community Bridges Provides Tax Aid to Immigrant Families


Santa Cruz County, CA — Undocumented workers across Santa Cruz County have been disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as constant shut downs left them without a financial safety net to fall back on. 

As the tax deadline gets closer, immigrant workers who pay their taxes through an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) are left to wonder if they can afford the cost of filing. As the leading human services agency in Santa Cruz County, Community Bridges is stepping up to fill the gap by offering immigrant families a fee-free way to renew or acquire a new ITIN and help families file 1040es, through their ITIN Project. 

Funded by the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, this project aims to provide access to COVID relief support from expanded state and federal tax credits. Community Bridges is committed to serving 200 families across the county. 

“It cannot be disputed that immigrant workers had to bear the brunt of pandemic-related health risks in order to keep our local economy’s afloat. We could not provide food for our families without their essential labor to ensuring the service industry was able to meet local demands. Even though we know they contribute millions in taxes, they have been ruthlessly left out of relief,” said Community Bridges CEO, Raymon Cancino. 

According to the latest report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented taxpayers contribute over $21 million in state and local taxes. They also represent 10% of the workforce in California, where their labor has largely fallen into the “essential” category throughout the pandemic. 

“We hope clients will take advantage of recent tax credits available to them. By providing assistance and saving them the fees, that may be a barrier to filling, we hope to draw more federal dollars that will allow local families to thrive and ensuring that available tax credits that they earned are also captured,” he continued. 

Anyone needing to renew or those interested in applying for an ITIN can qualify for a free voucher for an ITIN submittal and a 1040ES tax application by contacting their nearest Community Bridges Family Resource Center. 

For more information, visit: communitybridges.org 

ABOUT THE FAMILY RESOURCE COLLECTIVE 

The compassionate and knowledgeable staff at the four Family Resource Centers (FRCs) offer a warm, friendly, safe place for the Santa Cruz County community to access resources that offer stability and hope for the future. Bi-lingual and bi-cultural advocacy services meet the long and short-term needs of families at no or low cost. FRCs help our community access benefits and resources such as housing, employment, healthcare, disability, unemployment, immigration, mental health counseling, literacy education, youth tutoring, substance abuse recovery, domestic violence prevention, nutrition, and child care. 

Watsonville: La Manzana Community Resources 521 Main St, Suite Y Watsonville, CA 95076 

Live Oak: Live Oak Community Resources 1740 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 

Felton: Mountain Community Resources 6134 Hwy 9, Felton, CA 95018

Santa Cruz: Nueva Vista Community Resources 711 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 

ABOUT COMMUNITY BRIDGES 

Community Bridges envisions a thriving community where every person has the opportunity to unleash their full potential. Together, our family of programs delivers essential services, provides equitable access to resources, and advocates for health and dignity across every stage of life. To learn more, please visit www.communitybridges.org. The Community Bridges family of programs includes the Child & Adult Care Food Program, Child Development Division, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), La Manzana Community Resources, Live Oak Community Resources, Mountain Community Resources, Nueva Vista Community Resources, Elderday Adult Day Health Care, Lift Line and Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County. ###

Today, we celebrate the incredible women who make our world brighter—every mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, colleague, and friend. To the women in our organization and beyond, your strength 💪, wisdom, and resilience inspire us every day. Thank you for the love, dedication, and passion you bring to everything you do. Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing women making a difference in our lives! 💜 #WomensDay #EmpowerHer #WomenOfStrength ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is dedicated to helping families thrive by providing crucial nutrition support. With the help of WIC, over 6,500 families are receiving food vouchers and guidance that make a real difference in their lives. Let’s come together to ensure that no family goes hungry and that every child has the chance to grow up healthy and strong. 💚In light of the uncertainty around federal funding for programs like WIC, your support is more important than ever. By donating, you're not just providing immediate relief, but investing in the long-term resilience of our communities. Together, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for those in need.How You Can Help:💰 Donate: Your generous contributions make a direct impact on families in need. Every donation helps provide essential food and nutrition education to those who need it most. Communitybridges.org/national-nutrition-month 🙌 Volunteer: Give back to support families in your community. Volunteers help with everything from organizing food distributions to providing support and resources. Communitybridges.org/volunteer 📢 Share this post & spread awareness: The more people who know, the more families we can help! Help us amplify our mission and encourage others to get involved.Together, we have the power to fight hunger, nourish our future, and uplift our community. 💪 Every action, no matter how small, makes a difference. Will you join us in making a lasting impact for women, infants, and children? ✨#WIC #NationalNutritionMonth #FightHunger #CommunityBridges #NoOneGoesHungry #Donate ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

5 days ago

Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad
Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad's cover photo ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
This National Nutrition Month, we’re committed to ensuring every woman, infant, and child has access to the nutritious food they deserve. As food prices rise and federal funding faces uncertainty, we need your support more than ever. 🍎🥦For over 50 years, WIC has been a vital part of our nation’s nutrition safety net, providing nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, education, and healthcare referrals to low-income families. WIC provides guidance and food vouchers for 6,500 families, playing a key role in improving lifelong health for women, infants, and children. 👩‍👧‍👦The need has never been greater. As food prices continue to rise and resources become more limited, families face increasing challenges in accessing the nutrition they need. Despite these obstacles, WIC is making a powerful impact—providing essential guidance, food vouchers, and support to thousands of families.Together, we’re fighting hunger and building a healthier, stronger future for families across our community. 💚 #WIC #NationalNutritionMonth #FightHunger #CommunityBridges #NoOneGoesHungry ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
📢 Join Us in Nourishing Our Community! 🍎🥦Good food fuels strong communities! This National Nutrition Month, we’re taking action to ensure every child, family, and senior in our region has access to healthy meals—but we can’t do it alone.📈 Grocery prices have risen 25% since the pandemic, leaving many struggling to put food on the table. Seniors on fixed incomes are skipping meals. Childcare providers are working hard to provide balanced meals, but the cost of food keeps rising.At the same time, federal funding uncertainties threaten the future of essential nutrition programs. That’s why we’re raising $20,000 this month to keep food on our neighbors' tables.Where Your Donation Goes: 🍽 Healthy Meals for Kids – Supporting 4,716 children through childcare meal programs 🥫 Food Distributions for Families – 10,000+ bags of food delivered last year 🚚 Meals on Wheels for Seniors – 1,700 seniors rely on us for daily nutrition 👩‍👧 Nutrition Support for Families – WIC provides guidance & food vouchers for 6,500 familiesHow You Can Help: 💰 Donate: Communitybridges.org/national-nutrition-month 🙌 Volunteer: communitybridges.org/volunteer 📢 Share this post & spread awareness!Together, we can fight hunger and nourish our community. Will you join us? 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook