Thank You, Andrew Benjamin

I don't read the paid newspaper obituaries, but I do usually check the "Remembering" stories that are written by journalists, whether reprinted from other papers or by Star Tribune staff. Today's paper contained one about Andrew Benjamin, 85, who was a 37-year volunteer at a local organization now called Prepare + Prosper.

During his working years, Benjamin was an accountant, a controller, at a local company, and as a volunteer at Prepare + Prosper he did pro bono tax prep for low-income people so they didn't get ripped off by all the for-profit tax prep companies that have sprung up to take advantage, especially since the Earned Income Tax Credit came into existence during the Reagan years.

At first he put in two days a week, but after retiring, he volunteered 40–50 hours a week.

"After finishing a five- or six-hour shift," said [Katy] Schultz, "he would be running out to a second location for another shift."....

In a story published on the nonprofit's website in 2017, Benjamin estimated that he had prepared 26,000 returns as a volunteer over the years.

It's a blessing to learn about such specific good work among the wider good work of an organization like Prepare + Prosper, which was already one of my favorite local nonprofit social service groups.