Aloha United Way helped file 2,618 tax returns for the 2008 tax year through its free tax assistance program, the nonprofit organization said in a news release.

The returns garnered $3 million in refunds, about $1.2 million of which came from the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The tax credit benefits low- to moderate-income individuals and families.

"We are happy to be able to provide these services to the community," said Aloha United Way's Family and Individual Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinator Susan Tamanaha. "It is this refund money that can, we hope, help them to move toward achieving financial stability."

The free tax assistance program is made possible thanks to dozens of volunteers and agencies, including Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Honolulu Community Action Program and Chaminade University of Honolulu.