WHEAT Community Services, Inc. Announces New Officers and Board Members

September 13, 2006 - The Board of Directors for WHEAT Community Services, Inc. elected a new slate of officers at it's first meeting of the new fiscal year on Wednesday, August 30. Linda Hughes, Coordinator of the Clinton Parent-Child Home Program was elected President for FY2006-2007. Kathy Veroude, Director of Education at the Willow Hill School was elected Vice President. Clinton resident Tena Zepantis from Nypro will be the new Treasurer, and past president Theresa Kane of The Polus Center for Social and Economic Development is the new clerk. Bolton resident Chris Hurd will serve on the Executive Committee as Immediate Past President. Returning board members include Cindy Buhner of Growing places Gardens Inc., Kerry Flathers from Perkins in Lancaster, Mary Pat Heelan of Legacy Publishing, Don Lowe, Office of Community and Economic Development, Clinton, Eleanor Mahoney, Lancaster Public Schools, Judy McGrail, Clinton Public Schools, and Ellen Philbin, consultant. The board welcomed two new members: Steve Adam from Nypro who also serves on the Orange Board of Selectmen, and Pam Hill, manager of the Berlin branch of Clinton Savings Bank. The board mourned the loss of past president Paula LaLiberte, who passed away last spring.

Outgoing Board President Chris Hurd, who presented FY06 accomplishments with Executive Director Jodi Breidel noted "we are certainly making a difference and there is a lot more work to be done." Most recently, over 200 backpacks complete with necessary school supplies where made available to children in the area who otherwise might not have the resources to be prepared for the first day of school. After the "year in review," which highlighted the numerous services provided by WHEAT to over 9000 residents, newly elected President Linda Hughes addressed the board with an encouraging view of the year ahead. Hughes said " we have an amazing board with incredible commitment and talents. I am confidant that will the help of our volunteers we can again, accomplish great things for our communities."

WHEAT's mission is to promote the well being of low-income children, adults and families in the communities of Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Lancaster and Sterling. WHEAT's Multiservice Center in downtown Clinton, funded largely by United Way of Tri-County and other grant agencies as well as numerous corporate and private donations, offers services provided by partners such as legal services, housing services, Y.O.U. Inc., fuel assistance, RCAP housing and utility assistance, Catholic Charities, and VNA care wellness clinics. They work in collaboration with the Item Appeal and Society of St. Vincent DePaul to help people deal with immediate financial crisis to stop foreclosures and homelessness. WHEAT offers confidential consultation and referrals, food distribution, a food pantry, food stamps and fuel assistance services. WHEAT operates through volunteers the Community Café, a hot meal program that serves freshly made meals 6 nights per week, a second-hand store, and a cyber-café that offers free high speed computers for job assistance. WHEAT is a delegate agency of the Montachusett Opportunity Council.

For more information about WHEAT, go to www.wheatcommunity.net or contact Jodi at 978-365-6349.

CONTACT INFO

Theresa E. Kane, Clerk
978-270-2457, tkane@poluscenter.org

or Jodi Breidel, Executive Director
978-365-6349, jbreidel@wheatcommunity.net