Chris Young has been volunteering with Dallas Community Tax Centers (DCTC) for several years, preparing taxes for low-income families. He first got involved with DCTC after retiring earlier than expected due to medical issues. 

When asked how he started with DCTC, Chris explained, “I had medical issues, but I had not anticipated retiring at this time [in my life]. I was talking to the head of United Way, Gary Godsey, and was asking what can I do? I’ve been working with United Way for many years, and they were helping Foundation Communities get off the ground in Dallas.” Volunteering with DCTC allowed Chris to keep his mind active and give back to the community in a meaningful way during retirement. 

Despite not having an extensive tax background besides doing his own taxes, Chris’ business and finance experience prepared him well for volunteering. He shared, “My background is in Business in Supply Chain. There was a lot of finance involved in it. I spent an enormous amount of time working on budgets and managing finances.” Over the years, Chris has volunteered at various DCTC sites, currently serving at Concord Church. 

When asked about the best part of volunteering, Chris said interacting with clients is very enjoyable. “For the most part, everybody’s very pleasant. It’s interesting to chat with them as you’re doing it. That’s the good bit.” Helping others and staying mentally engaged are what keep Chris coming back year after year. DCTC is thankful for dedicated volunteers like him who make their work possible.