Pat Ballard didn't need much persuading to become an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer. She was well-acquainted with a senior citizen who needed help filing tax returns. That senior was her mother.

"There's just a huge need in our community for [a] tax-aid service that's free to people," said Ballard, 58, who is devoting several hours of service each week at the Christiansburg Recreation Center where AARP tax assistance is offered four days a week through April 15. "I helped my mom do her [taxes] in her later years and realized there was a great need."

Many others also give their time. Billed as the nation's largest free volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service, The national AARP organization reports that an estimated 32,000 volunteers annually provide assistance to thousands of adults ages 60 and older.

In Montgomery County alone this year, AARP Tax-Aide stations are available in three locations -- the Blacksburg Community Center, the Christiansburg Recreation Center and the YMCA Thrift Store in Blacksburg -- where a combined 17 volunteers fill a variety of roles that include one-on-one counseling, electronic filing and site coordinating.

Some volunteers share time between sites. Others have served as Tax-Aide consultants for many years. Ballard, who is in her third year as a counselor, said she has friends who have been volunteering for two decades. Volunteers are not paid but receive compensation for gas expenditures to and from sites. Reasons for serving vary.

"I just firmly believe taxes are something people shouldn't have to suffer though and something that shouldn't cost them," said fourth-year volunteer Coreen Mett, who spends about 12 hours a week meeting with taxpayers at the Christiansburg Recreation Center. "It should be a free service."

According to a recent survey, 96 percent of AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are satisfied with their experience.

"It's great to be able to provide a service for the entire community," Ballard said. "It's just a rewarding thing for us to do. We all just enjoy meeting people and helping them out."

All counselors are trained and tested on the newest tax laws in an AARP-sanctioned course offered in November and December. Those enrolled must receive a passing grade to qualify to file seniors' taxes.

"That's kind of like the challenge for all of us," Mett said. "It keeps us sharp."

Sessions typically last between 25 and 45 minutes.

"It's really convenient for them," Ballard said. "They're in by 9:30 and out by 10:30."

The Montgomery County program, which opened Feb. 1, had served 358 clients at its Christiansburg site after five weeks while 10 volunteer tax counselors and two client facilitators had logged more than 460 hours in the same amount of time.

"You just take a huge load off their shoulders when it comes tax season," Ballard said. "They just don't enjoy that and we help them through that process."

Breakfast Get-together: 10 a.m. Monday, Blacksburg Community Center. Enjoy a free pancake feast. 961-1134.

Blood drive: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Christiansburg Recreation Center. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. To help with the drive, 382-2349.

Fantastic '50s Party: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Montgomery County Government Center, Christiansburg. "Karaoke Konnection" will spin favorite '50s and '60s tunes. Play trivia, name that tune and dance the afternoon away. Contact the local senior centers for registration information.

Free movie and popcorn: 7 p.m. April 10, Meadowbrook Community Center, Christiansburg. The movie "Cars" will be shown. Registration deadline: April 9. 382-6975.

Senior van tour at New River Trail: April 10, 11, 18 and 24, beginning at 8:45 a.m. at the Shot Tower Historical State Park and ending at 4:15 p.m. at the shot tower. Each guided tour covers 40 miles of trail and includes gorgeous views of Claytor Lake, the New River and Chestnut Creek. By reservation only. $25 per person. Must be 55 or older. For reservations: (276) 699-6778.

Avoca Museum trip: leave Blacksburg Community Center at 9:15 a.m. April 11 for this principal architectural landmark in Altavista. Tour the grounds and museum shop. Blacksburg residents, $20; others, $30. Fee includes transportation, lunch and museum tour. 961-1134.

Roanoke Times tour: leave Blacksburg Community Center at 10 a.m. April 18 for a tour of the newspaper office in downtown Roanoke. Blacksburg residents, $5; others, $10. 961-1134.

"Welcome Spring" dinner: 5:30 p.m. April 19, Blacksburg Community Center. Ham, rolls and drinks provided. Bring a side dish or dessert. Free. Registration deadline is April 18. 961-1134.

Breakfast gathering: 9 a.m. April 25, Meadowbrook Community Center, Christiansburg. Bring a favorite breakfast dish to share. Register by April 23. Free. 382-6975.

RSVP Recognition. April 26, 11:30 a.m., Pulaski Church of God family life center. Register before April 18. 980-3969.

Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program. Through the NRV Agency on Aging, one-on-one assistance is available for Medicare beneficiaries who need help in understanding their insurance coverage or dealing with associated problems. Free. For appointments: 980-7720 or the senior centers in Radford at 731-5517 and Blacksburg at 961-1134.

Registration for all Blacksburg Senior Center programs has begun. Walk-in, phone-in and fax-in registrations accepted. Registration will continue until programs are full. Online registration for senior programs will begin in May. 961-1134.

Wheatland Retirement Community needs volunteers to help with arts and crafts, to file and polish fingernails and to lead a sing-along group. Other activities include reading to small groups and providing entertainment. 382-5200.

Free smoke detectors: Offered by Montgomery County fire departments to anyone who needs them. Call your local fire department or Neal Turner, Montgomery County emergency service coordinator, 394-2146.

H2U (Health, Happiness and You membership program), Pulaski Community Hospital: For $15 a year, members receive benefits at both the local and national level. Provides health information, resources and experiences to members. For more information: www.h2u.com or 994-8418.

Personal training and fitness classes: Available at the Blacksburg Senior Fitness Center. Registration is ongoing for Personal Training, Fit over Fifty, Healthy Backs, Pilates for Seniors and Stretch, Balance and Tone classes. Fees vary. Free orientations to the fitness center available by appointment. 961-1134 or 961-1149.

Card games: Bridge, 10 a.m. Mondays; canasta, 1:30 p.m. Mondays; beginning canasta, 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Radford Senior Center. 731-5517.

Novice Knitters: 2 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Blacksburg Senior Center social room. Informal group works on a variety of needle projects. Free. 961-1134.

Duplicate bridge: 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, Blacksburg Community Center. Partners required and intermediate to advanced skill levels recommended. 552-5361.

"Lite Jazzercise": 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Blacksburg Community Center. Sixty-minute, low-impact class pairs moderate aerobics with exercises designed to improve strength, balance and flexibility. Thirteen-time pass. Blacksburg residents, $25; others, $35. Pass good for one year. 961-1134.

Pilates: 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Blacksburg Community Center. Strengthen and lengthen the body in this introduction to the fundamentals of Pilates. Thirteen-time pass. Blacksburg residents, $39; others, $49. Pass is good for one year. 961-1134.

AARP Blacksburg: Third Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Blacksburg Community Center. 552-5818.

Quilting and Ceramics: 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Radford Senior Center. 731-5517.

Gospel singing: Public invited monthly for gospel singing of old hymns on the following schedule: 10 a.m. first Tuesdays at the Christiansburg Recreation Center senior activities area; and 2 p.m. first Wednesdays at Wheatland Retirement Center, Christiansburg. Musicians and singers welcome. Mary Dotson, 382-8543.

Party bridge: 9 a.m. to noon second Tuesdays and 1 to 4 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays, Blacksburg Community Center. 961-1134.

Badminton: Wednesdays, 9 a.m. Pulaski Central Gym. 994-8627.

Bingo: 10 a.m. Wednesdays, New River Valley Mall community room, Christiansburg. 382-6346.

Creative Memories: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. first Wednesdays, Radford Senior Center. Features scrapbooking with leader Lynn Wright. Supplies available or bring your own. Lunch included for $15. 731-5517.

Radford Chapter AARP luncheon: 12:30 p.m. third Wednesdays, Radford Senior Center. A guest speaker will address seniors each month on a topic of interest. 639-4571.

Seniors workshop: 9 to 11 a.m. fourth Wednesdays, Radford Senior Center. $5. 731-5517.

Blood pressure clinics: 9 to 10 a.m. first Fridays in the Betty Craig Activity Room of the Radford Senior Center. Blood sugar screenings also offered at Friday clinic. 731-5517.

Easy Motions: Less strenuous exercise class, 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Christiansburg Recreation Center multipurpose room 2A. Doctor's note and registration required, 382-2349.

Fun & Fit Fridays: 8 a.m. to noon, at the Blacksburg Senior Center. Billiards, table tennis, shuffleboard, basketball free throws, Frisbee, croquet, horseshoes, boccie and planned outings for other activities. Registration not required. No programs during holiday weeks. 961-1134.

The Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Virginia Blue Ridge: Volunteer consumer-rights advocacy group provides information about options available for funeral and other end-of-life arrangements, www.funerals.org/fcavbr. 953-5589.

Intrepid USA Healthcare Services: Provides free, in-home evaluations to determine whether an individual qualifies for professional home-care services such as home health aid, medical social workers and physical therapy under Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance. 961-5464 or (888) 416-1428.

H2U Montgomery Regional Hospital: Seniors 50 and older can receive national and local benefits from membership in the Montgomery Regional Chapter. Betty Jahn, 953-5291.