Lorain County Community Action Agency is headed in a new direction for 2024.
On Dec. 16, Jackie Boehnlein stepped down as CEO of the Community Action Agency.
Shauna Matelski is serving as interim CEO until the agency hires a new leader.
Matelski has been with the agency for nearly 33 years.
She explained that she was the first step in the agency’s succession plan following Boehnlein’s departure.
“I’m acting CEO currently, until the Board of Directors and the search committee makes their decisions,” Matelski said. “Right now, due to the holidays and things, there’s really not a time put on it at this point.”
Matelski may have been the first step, but she said she unlikely is the last.
While she is in the running to be the agency’s next permanent CEO, there are other candidates for the position, she said.
So far, the transition period from Boehnlein to her successor, has been completely seamless, Matelski said.
“I worked with the former CEO for at least a month and a half to make this transition seamless,” she said. “I think the board will continue to help us do that.
“They oversee all of the programs as well, so I’ll continue to report to them. If there’s any transition from here, the goal will be to make it seamless.”
Annual report
Looking back at the year that was, Matelski said she is proud of the work showcased in the Community Action Agency’s annual report for 2023.
Specifically, she cited the agency’s fresh produce distribution in Lorain as one of the strengths from the past year.
“Coming from our community assessment, there were several things noted there that we found to be a need,” she said. “Food and nutrition insecurity is one of them, so we’re particularly proud with what’s been done with our produce, (and) our youth who have been working providing fresh produce and feeding the hungry.”
Matelski also noted that the Community Action Agency helped Lorainites in need through the recent cost of living crisis.
The organization takes pride in helping residents bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic, she said.
“(We have been) keeping people in their homes with the rental assistance that we’ve been working on,” Matelski said. “Especially post-pandemic right now, we’ll be getting back to regularly-funded programming.
“Inflation, you know, everything is up. It says in our report, food is up 30 percent.”
Highlights of the Community Action Agency’s 2023 annual report include:
• 525 food boxes were distributed in the first four months of the agency’s new Produce Center
• More than $200,000 in property tax assistance was distributed
• 2,424 work hours were completed by youth
• 317 Community Health Workers are affiliated with the Pathways HUB
The report also details the Community Action Agency’s leadership change with a farewell letter from Boehnlein and information on Matelski.
The report can be downloaded at www.lccaa.net/news/annual_report.
Hard copies are available by contacting Barbara Nicholls at bnicholls@lccaa.net or 440-204-3178.
Matelski urged those who need help to contact the Community Action Agency as soon as they can by calling 440-245-2009.
Those looking to donate, can visit lccaa.net.
