Meet the team.

Leah M. Reynolds, M.S.P.L.
Executive Director
Leah Reynolds took on the role of Executive Director of KACS in July 2019. She holds a Master of Science in Professional Leadership with a focus on non-profits and a B.A. in Legal Studies. Leah has more than 25 years of successful experience leading both small and complex nonprofit organizations, developing initiatives that have led to transformative change. She has also been a life-long volunteer assisting people in recovery from addiction and those facing issues of poverty. Her passion is to create collaborative relationships in order to build up communities so they, in turn, can build up the people in them. This has been a career as well as personal pursuit.


Amy Scheuren
Program Director
Amy joined KACS in August 2016 as Emergency Assistance Case Manager and was promoted to Program Director in April 2019. As Director, she is responsible for all aspects of Emergency Assistance operations including development of all programming, management of the advocate staff, fiscal management, and interface with outside agencies and funding sources. Amy is bilingual and is a licensed social worker with experience in both the United States and Central America.



Nancy Tapia 
Participant Advocate 
Nancy joined the KACS staff in 2017 and is bilingual. As Participant Advocate in the Food Cupboard, Nancy is responsible for participant registrations and communications, as well as data collection and the assessment of participant needs. Nancy also assists the Emergency Assistance Program through referrals and support as well as KACS public relations efforts. 




​Britton Elwood 
Operations Coordinator 
Britton started as a volunteer at KACS in March 2018. She joined KACS first as our COVID19 Response Coordinator and then became the Operations Coordinator in June 2020. She is responsible for food procurement through donations and food drives both at KACS and in other locations. She oversees the Luther House food delivery program.   ​



Jess Peterson
Community Coordinator 
Jess Peterson joined the KACS team in July 2021 bringing with her 30 years of experience in hospitality and service. She’s been a local Kennett area resident for over 20 years. She initially came to KACS in early 2020 in a group volunteering effort with her Sovana Bistro restaurant family. As the community coordinator, Jess coordinates the amazing volunteer program at KACS, in addition to networking and collaborating with other public and private organizations in our area to raise awareness of who we how and how we can help support our community members. 


Gonzalo Cano
Emergency Assistance Advocate
Gonzalo joined KACS in December 2017 as a bilingual Emergency Assistance Case Manager. Gonzalo works with individuals and families who are experiencing early stages of instability, assisting with rental, utility and other types of assistance that may be needed.





Elizabeth Flores
Housing Stability Advocate
Elizabeth joined the KACS team in October 2017 as the Housing Stability Case Manager, adding support and long-term case management to KACS clients who have experienced chronic homelessness and recently secured permanent housing. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s of Social Work from LaSalle University and has experience in supporting families and individuals in crisis, with a concentration on immigrant families.




​Keila Hernandez-Sullivan
Emergency Assistance Advocate
Keila  Emergency Assistance team in October 2019. She works with individuals and families experiencing homelessness and those at the highest level of crisis. An Oxford native, Keila has returned to Southern Chester County after 6 years of living, studying and working outside the area. She completed her Bachelor's of Social Work degree from Appalachian State University in Western North Carolina and has extensive experience working with the latino population and people experiencing homelessness. 



Chrissy Romano  
Bridges Out of Poverty Coordinator  
Chrissy joined the KACS team in August 2021 as the Bridges Out of Poverty Coordinator.  Chrissy comes to the team with over 20 years in the client facing financial industry.   She is also pursuing her BSW in Social Work with Walden university.  Chrissy will be working to revamp the Bridges Out of Poverty Model to KACS along with the Getting Ahead and Staying Ahead Workshops.   




Sheila Eames
Bookkeeper 
Sheila joined KACS in April 2021 as the Bookkeeper. Sheila has 20+ years of experience in all functions of bookkeeping and accounting. Sheila will make sure KACS maintains its tax-exempt status, keep track of funding and make sure we’re compliant with ever-changing regulations. She is committed to helping KACS use the donations we receive to make the biggest possible impact. 

 


​Linda Johnson
Administrative Assistant 
Linda started at KACS in March 2021 in the role of Administrative Assistant. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and comes to KACS with experience in Public Health Nutrition from working and volunteering in food assistance programs throughout Chester County for the past 10 years. She will be providing administrative support to the operations of the programs at KACS. 




Sarah Golden
Communication and Development Associate 
Sarah joined KACS in April 2021. Sarah brings to KACS over 10 years of Client Relationship Management and Development. Sarah will champion the mission of KACS and help tell the many stories of the families that KACS helps with food, emergency assistance and crisis services. With Sarah's help KACS will continue to authentically build trust and a long-term relationships with supporters, volunteers and community members.


 
Lily Rodriguez
Information Management Specialist 
Lily joined KACS in October of 2020 assisting KACS in a temporary part-time role. In August she became the Information Management Specialist and is bilingual. Lily's work focuses on data across various software solutions. She is our in-house data guru. 






​Delaney Marin-Tapia
Administrative Assistant
Delaney joined KACS as a volunteer and then an intern via the Garage Community and Youth Center's Career Compass program in March 2020. Delaney has assisted the Food Cupboard and began working with the Emergency Assistance team as a bilingual administrative assistant, providing support with the multitude of weekly requests KACS receives. Delaney is a 2020 graduate of Kennett High School and is currently enrolled at West Chester University.
 
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Britney Bautista
Intern
Britney started in August 2020 at KACS as a bilingual intern via the Garage Community and Youth Center's Career Compass program assisting in the Food Cupboard. After her successful internship, Britney accepted a second internship through KACS. She is currently attending online college classes through Delaware County Community College in their social work transfer program. After that, her plan is to transfer to West Chester University and attain a bachelor's Degree.