For volunteer appreciation week, two longtime friends are proving a shared passion for helping others can span decades, careers and even state lines. 

Bonnie Fuentes and Daisy Siniscalchi, both originally from Long Island, N.Y., have built a life and a volunteer mission together in Jacksonville through United Way of Northeast Florida. The pair, who have known each other for more than 40 years, serve as leaders with RealSense, United Way’s Initiative that helps residents navigate tax preparation with care and confidence. 

United Way’s RealSense initiative is our region’s official IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program, helps local families and individuals file their taxes at no cost to them. Through IRS-certified volunteers, the program supports low-to moderate income households by ensuring they receive the refunds and credits they are eligible for without the expense of paid tax preparation services.  

Bonnie, who moved to Jacksonville over 12 years ago, has volunteered with RealSense for the past three years as a site coordinator and trainer. Daisy, who relocated to Jacksonville nine years ago, has also spent three years volunteering and currently coordinates two sites with Bonnie. Their journey to RealSense is rooted in long careers with the IRS. 

Daisy began working with the IRS in 1984, gaining experience across multiple departments, including customer service and collections. She also volunteered with service-focused organizations, including the Taxpayer Advocate Service. 

“That’s what we like to do — we like to help people,” Daisy said. 

Bonnie served as an executive with the IRS before also transitioning to the Tax Payer Advocate Service, where she described her work assisting taxpayers as the “pinnacle” of her career. 

“I’ve done a lot of things, but it’s all about helping taxpayers,” Bonnie said. “When you see what happens to a taxpayer who made a mistake, and how bad it can get without the right help, it drives you to show them the right way.” 

Their friendship has been just as enduring as their careers. Bonnie once hired Daisy at the IRS. Years later, after Bonnie moved to Florida and Daisy relocated to Puerto Rico, the two reconnected when Fuentes traveled to Puerto Rico for work. Their bond picked up right where it left off. 

When Daisy’s husband became ill and needed specialized care, the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville became the next step. Bonnie helped the couple relocate, opening her home to them until they found a place of their own, just across the street. 

They were neighbors for years as they volunteered side by side at RealSense tax sites.  

At the Jacksonville Housing Authority’s Real Sense site, they assist low-income residents in a setting Bonnie describes as close-knit. 

“It’s like a family there,” she said. “Every year it’s the same people, and we know them all.” 

They also serve at the St. Johns River State College RealSense site, where they help a diverse group of community members, including individuals with limited English proficiency. RealSense, which celebrated 20 years of service in 2024, operates more than 41 tax sites across 6 counties every tax season. 

“Both sites are so appreciative that we’re there helping them and educating them, and they always come back,” Daisy said. “It’s so gratifying.” 

Their work goes beyond tax preparation. RealSense provides a judgment-free environment where clients can ask questions and receive guidance, something both women say is critical. 

“Volunteering means helping people,” Daisy said. “It makes me happy to make others happy.” Her passion has spread to her family; she has encouraged her daughter to volunteer and hopes her husband will join as well. 

Bonnie said she values the strong support system among volunteers and the organization’s commitment to accurate, up-to-date training. “Everyone goes above and beyond to help,” she said. “We make sure each client knows they are prioritized.” 

She also believes access to free tax preparation is essential. “The average taxpayer shouldn’t have to pay to have their taxes done,” Bonnie said. 

Together, the pair also mentor new volunteers, often working so seamlessly that, as Fuentes puts it, “we can finish each other’s sentences.” 

For both women, Volunteer Appreciation Week is not just a recognition, it’s a reminder of the impact of showing up for others. 

“We need volunteers,” Bonnie said. “We’re here to help you get started, and it’s a wonderful experience.” 

United Way’s RealSense initiative needs volunteers all year, not just during tax season. There are a variety of roles available, including greeters, filers, quality assurance helpers and more, visit unitedwaynefl.org/realsense to start your volunteer journey with RealSense today. If you are interested in donating to the RealSense initiative, you can make a gift of any size at any time at unitedwaynefl.org/give.