CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Frank Brothers knows his numbers. "My career basically worked in budgets... and technology and 'fix this' and 'fix that' for the school system," says Brothers, who retired from Chesapeake Public Schools in 2002.
He found the start of his next life chapter at his church, Great Bridge Presbyterian in Chesapeake.
"A member of the church, who was doing this as a volunteer, asked me would I like to go through training. And I did."
That's how Brothers eventually became a site coordinator for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide.
The program offers free tax prep help to anyone, but especially to those who are 50 and older and cannot afford a tax prep service.
"A lot of [the] folks are repeaters," says Brothers. "They have been here and they come for the service and also for the coffee!"
Brothers says the volunteer commitment is like a full-time job from January to April.
"You're consumed for five days a week," says Brothers. But for him, helping others is pay enough.
"I was given a lot in life," he says. "So you know, I'm not a 'gimme, gimme, gimme'. And so, you wanna give back, especially in the time you have available."
Brothers oversees the tax prep sites at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church and the South Norfolk Memorial Library in Chesapeake.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites are open until April 15. To find a location near you, visit https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/