With tax season just around the corner, Concordia Parish residents had a little help getting their tax forms filed Friday. And it was free.

Parish residents sat patiently in Concordia Parish library in Ferriday with tax forms in hand, waiting to have their taxes filed by professional tax preparers.

The program lasted from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

According to a press release, LaSalle Community Action Association Incorporated will assist residents in Catahoula, Concordia and LaSalle parishes in electronically filing their 2006 federal and state tax forms.

The program, which started in January, targets individuals who are eligible to receive “Earned Income Tax Credit,” or EITC.

Rhonda Guillot, 47, is a Certified Nursing Assistant for Promise Specialty Hospital in Ferriday.

“I came to get help filling out my taxes, but not only that, it’s closer,” Guillot said.

Guillot lives three blocks from the library on Tennessee Avenue, so she said she could walk to get help with her taxes.

“It’s very convenient,” she said.

Guillot said normally she would have to wait on her son or her brother to take her to Jonesville.

“My cousin was helping me ,but she doesn’t live here anymore,” she said.

Guillot waited in the library from 9 to 11 a.m., but she said it’s worth the wait.

“Who wants to go out in the rain and try to find somebody to do their taxes?” Guillot said. “I work nights anyway, so I’m used to waiting.”

Volunteer tax preparer Sondra Redmon said another thing the program tries to do is prevent low-to-moderate income individuals from using their tax refunds to pay for tax preparation.

“We’re helping individuals save money they really could use for better basic needs like paying utilities or putting food on the table or if nothing else, buy a pair of shoes,” Redmon said.

The program does not provide itemized deduction services, she said.

Joseph Hillard, 52, arrived at the library at 8:45 a.m. and was done at 11 a.m.

“It wasn’t so bad,” Hillard said. “I got waited on in about 30 minutes. I just sat there, gave them my forms and they did the rest.”

Hillard said he was glad the service was free.

“It’s a blessing because there aren’t too many services like this around here,” he said.

“Thank God and Jesus for this service.

After the program, volunteer tax preparer Jon’a Holly said in all, 15 people came to get help with their taxes.

“It was pretty good and I think the taxpayers appreciated it,” she said.

Holly said there would be other opportunities for people in the parish to get help with their taxes.

LaSalle Community Action Association representatives will be at the Ferriday Housing Authority office, on Montgomery Square, Wednesday and back at the library next Friday.

They will also be at the Concordia Parish library in Vidalia, March 9, Holly said.

For more information contact LaSalle CAA Inc. at 318-744-5672.