Millions of American families received their first monthly expanded Child Tax Credit payment Thursday, while thousands of potentially eligible Monroe County residents wait in limbo for help.

Local leaders and Empire Justice Center Creating Assets, Savings & Hope (CASH) officials announced a new initiative to get those families who may not know their eligible or haven’t filed their taxes in the last two years a chance to receive that extra needed bonus.

CASH is offering free tax services, appointments and open discussions until September 2. Officials say this effort will help those families who didn’t get a chance to opt in.

“Many families were not a part of that first distribution,” Yversha Roman, CASH at Empire Justice Center director, said. “As I entered my role as director at CASH, it became clear to me and many community partners that a community-wide effort was needed to ensure that every Monroe County resident eligible for Child Tax Credit was informed of their eligibility and provided with the support needed to get connected to that credit.”

“They haven’t filed their taxes because they did not make enough money in the last year to file their taxes,” Mayor Lovely Warren added. “So for those 4,000 families that are in our community, we are thankful to have an organization like CASH to be able to help them and get them access to the dollars they need in order to take care of their families.”

Families have a chance to receive payments that will add up to $3,600 for each child under six and up to $3,000 for children ages 6-17.

If you’re uncertain about your eligibility, you can visit the CASH office on the fourth floor of the Central Library or call 585-900-1004.