In 2020, Community Action Services distributed more than 3.2 million pounds of food. We handed out more than 28,000 Kid Nutrition Paks so children would have food to eat on weekends. We also helped people reduce their debt, navigate the home-buying process, master financial literacy, and so much more.
To accomplish our goals, we rely on an army of volunteers—1,689 last year—and a team of dedicated staff. And now we are happy to welcome a new member to our team: Wendy Matheney, our new executive assistant. Here’s a bit on her background, her new role, and how she plays into our overall mission.
Meet Matheney
After 15 years at her last job, Matheney recently made the jump to Community Action Services. She says there’s been a learning curve, but she loves learning more about the community and its needs. And as a mother of five and grandmother of 10, she’s more than up to the challenge.
When she’s not working, her favorite pastime is road-tripping. For her birthday, she’s treating herself to a two-week, 4,500-mile trip. She’s planning stops in Chicago, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. When not on the road, she’s always in the mood for a laugh, turning to shows like Parks and Rec, Schitt’s Creek, The IT Crowd, and Arrested Development.
New Position
Having finally made her way to Community Action Services, Matheney will assist the executive team — CEO Karen McCandless, COO Tom Hogan, and CFO David Robinson — as the executive assistant. In this role, Matheney is responsible for supporting McCandless and the rest of the team so they can get out into the community and support the agency’s mission.
“My favorite part of this job so far is the people and the culture at CASFB,” Matheney says. “It’s supportive, inclusive, accepting, and giving. I feel like my work will be more of a cause than a job. If I do my part well, then the people I support can do their best job for the community.”
Our Mission
We’re dedicated to fostering self-reliance in individuals, families, and communities in Utah, Wasatch, and Summit counties. We do that by providing a two-step process to solving poverty. First, we provide resources to help people stabilize their crisis with services like emergency assistance and food pantries. Then we help them rebuild their lives with programs like Circles and our Financial Learning Center.
With the addition of Matheney, our executive team and the rest of our staff are better positioned to accomplish our mission and make our community a better place. We’re happy to welcome her and will continue to search for those who will strengthen our team.