Our Story

Our mission is to end poverty by empowering people and improving lives.

Since December 1965, the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council has been helping people and changing lives. We are a private non-profit organization assisting with home heating, energy conservation, housing, education, adult literacy, and food distribution. We reduce poverty and create opportunities for low-income, homeless, and people struggling with self-improvement.

Our New Location: 1700 N. Wenatchee Ave.

For almost 60 years we have served people in all of Chelan and Douglas County – all ages, all ethnicities, and race – unbiased, just the goal of helping people help themselves and each other. We did this from the same location for almost all of our first 60 years.  We were located in a former church for office space and rented two warehouse facilities for other services.

In 2019 the leadership staff and board began searching for a new location.  First looking at a property to build on, then at an existing warehouse.  Neither offered all the agency needed.  Then in September 2022 a third option became available: the C&O Nursery buildings and property located on 4-acres on North Wenatchee Avenue.

CDCAC leadership and board toured the property and realized the potential to expand services, stay true to the mission, and create a resource to continue empowering people for the next 50+-years.

With help from state Representative Mike Steel and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, funds were secured to purchase the facility and CDCAC closed on the purchase May 2023.  Renovation work began immediately.

First priority was getting the Weatherization warehouse and Food Distribution Center operational, installing new 1,000 square foot cooler and freezer units and opening a new community food pantry.  Completion of these phases were completed by July 2024. Next phase involved the office. 

The original office area was completely redone – new electrical, plumbing, restrooms, HVAC, walls, sheetrock, paint, flooring, fire suppression system, alarm, doors, new furniture. Nothing was untouched. In October 2025 staff moved from our original location to a ‘new’ office complete with multiple meeting rooms for internal staff use and external community members.

Simultaneously, exterior landscaping and paving proceeded.

The final phase was a 2,000 square foot community commercial kitchen. This is a community resource to boost economic development, launch new businesses, help existing businesses to grow, and provide a learning center for nutritional and education classes–maybe even a culinary program.

Throughout the various construction phases a wood product was used for wall, ceiling and decorative aspects.  The product, Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), was produced by Mass Timber in Spokane.  It is a sustainable, prefabricated engineered wood panel made by gluing layers of lumber at right angles, providing high strength, stability, and fire resistance.  It consists of at least three layers of 2×6 boards. Some of the product uses was almost 12×40 feet in size and some up to nine layers.  It is the first construction project in Wenatchee to utilize the product – which was first used in Europe in the 1990’s.

We welcome you to visit us, whether you are seeking assistance, want to be a volunteer, or just curious about CDCAC and wish to learn more. 

Community Partners

We proudly partner with dozens of organizations from a wide variety of sectors throughout North Central Washington, statewide, and nationwide to accomplish our mission.

Our Team

Administration

Alan Walker, Executive Director
Sara Torres, Deputy Director
Louise Johnson, Fiscal Director
Margarita Sanchez, Administrative Assistant
Reyna Brito, Receptionist

Housing

Chyvonna Torres, Director
Paige Sires, Program Coordinator
Edgar Ramos, Housing Supports Specialist
Danielle Sisco, Housing Supports Specialist
Jorge Rosales, Housing Supports Specialist
Amy Brandon, Housing Supports Specialist
Fabian Alvarez, Housing Maintenance Supervisor
Anastasia O’Brien, AmeriCorps Volunteer

Energy Assistance/Weatherization

Tom Bonwell, Director
Ana Morales, Energy Assistance Intake Specialist
Irvin Casique, Weatherization & Energy Assistance Intake Specialist
Dennis Stiles, Weatherization Crew Lead
Jim Mattson, Weatherization Housing Technician
Brady Woods, Weatherization Housing Technician
Mario Chirinos, Weatherization Housing Technician
Willy Alatorre, Weatherization Housing Technician

Food Services Center

Lonnie Walls, Director
Jeremy Yonaka, Food Distribution Center Coordinator
Brian Kell, Food Distribution Center Associate
Fabian Brito, Food Distribution Center Associate
Michelle Watson, Food Distribution Center Associate
Mario Tapia, Food Distribution Center Associate
Ulises Leon, Food Distribution Center Associate
Grace Gossett, AmeriCorps Food Distribution Center Associate
Bill Thompson, AmeriCorps Food Distribution Center Associate

AmeriCorps/AmeriCorps Seniors

Liz Drath, Director
Karen Bruggman, RSVP/ AmeriCorps Seniors Program Coordinator
Jeremy Yonaka, Volunteer Coordinator
Nyx McCullough, Literacy AmeriCorps Member

Data & Technology

Anwen Cook, Director

Board of Directors

Theresa Petrey, Attorney
Jim Bailey, Retired, Educator
Dr. Diana Garza, Vice President of Student Affairs, Wenatchee Valley College
Kelli Martinelli, Communications Specialist, SkillSource
Top Rojanasthien, Councilmember, City of Wenatchee
Tanner Bateman, Douglas County Coroner
Mike Morrison, Chelan County Sheriff
Nelson Delgado, Branch Manager, Self-Help Federal Credit Union