“Low-income people and their allies need a powerful organizational voice to defend and protect their interests on economic justice issues, and to guarantee their access to the government welfare services that ensure a strong foundation for people’s lives.”
Ken Regal | Executive Director
(412) 436-5106
pronouns: he/him/his
Ken Regal was named executive director in July 2012 after having served as one of our co-directors since Just Harvest’s founding in 1987. An activist and organizer in Pittsburgh for more than thirty years, he organized the campaign in the 1980s which persuaded the Pittsburgh Public Schools to join the National School Breakfast Program. Ken has consulted for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, served on the national grant-making advisory committee of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and has written and spoken on hunger and poverty issues for a wide range of audiences. He represents Just Harvest on the Board of the Pittsburgh United, the steering committee of the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, and the Allegheny County Health Department Advisory Coalition for its Plan for a Healthier Allegheny. Ken is a native of Brooklyn and a graduate of Brandeis University and lives in the Highland Park section of Pittsburgh with his wife.
“We partner with local corner stores to help them carry and promote fresh produce options that would otherwise not be available in that community.”
Dawn Marie Clepper-Hall | Director of Community Food Access
(412) 643-4870
pronouns: they/them/theirs
Since coming to Just Harvest in 2014, Dawn Marie Clepper Hall’s food policy work includes development, direct client service, and coordinating the Fresh Corners program where they worked to empower small, community-focused corner stores in underserved areas with the tools and resources they need to provide healthy food access to their neighbors. Dawn Marie was promoted to their current position in 2023. Prior to joining the Just Harvest team, they served two years in the AmeriCorps VISTA program through Hunger Free America. They hold a B.S. in sociology from Carlow University.
“I am increasing my dedication to be a force for change and to use my power for good. With an intense focus on the needs of the people I serve, I aim to thoughtfully, thoroughly, and with a humble heart, educate and empower individuals to incite change within their own communities.”
Dana Dolney | Grassroots Organizer
(412) 643-2349
pronouns: she/her/hers
Dana Dolney graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s in art history and has an extensive background in documentary photography and film. After traveling the globe through much of her 20’s, her life changed gears in her mid 30’s, after a difficult battle with breast cancer. With a second chance at life, Dana has been active in community organizing since 2009. She promoted public health and safety policies to protect the public’s air, water, and land with organizations like Marcellus Protest and Shale Test, and through a broad spectrum of public health and environmental coalitions across the US. Dana co-founded Friends of the Harmed, a project of the Thomas Merton Center, and worked in force with others to produce Shalefield Stories. She resides in Pittsburgh with two endlessly entertaining muppet/dogs named Lucylu and Linus. She spends as much time as possible in the great outdoors.
“Accurate and accessible information is crucial to providing our community with the services they need. I’m always working to strengthen the organizational web of resources so every individual person and local organization feels like they have a place to turn to when someone in the community needs help.”
Sarah Edmondson | Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator
(412) 440-5610
pronouns: she/her/hers
Sarah Edmondson grew up near the Outer Banks in Camden County, NC. She developed a passion for food access work after growing up without a full-service grocery store or farmer’s market in her entire county, despite the rolling fields of industrial grain that took up nearly 60% of all land in her home county. While working towards her degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Food Culture at Appalachian State University, she started her career at Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture working as a farmer’s market intern, outreach intern, and then as a High Country Food Hub coordinator, helping to develop satellite food access sites. After graduating, she picked up and moved to Pittsburgh to become Just Harvest’s Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator. Sarah is an avid home cook and baker who loves to fill her creations with all of the delicious local food that the area has to offer. In her free time, you can find her trying out new recipes or walking in her neighborhood with her dog, Pickle.
“I strive to help families connect to SNAP benefits by giving them support and an awareness of the rules and regulations for SNAP policies.”
Dontika Hall | SNAP Specialist
(412) 676-7064
pronouns: she/her/hers
Dontika Hall joined Just Harvest’s SNAP advocacy team in 2017 and became its manager in late 2021. She has an associate degree in business management from Kaplan Institute. While at Kaplan she interned at the YMCA in Homewood, helping families who had encountered financial hardship. Working for the YMCA, Dontika discovered her passion for helping people in need of support and knowledge on financial well-being, and that has been her mission ever since.
“VITA bridges the gap between low-income taxpayers and the benefits entitled to them within the tax code. Without free tax preparation, these benefits become another way for businesses to exploit that same population. This program allows us the opportunity to engage, educate, and empower these members of our community.”
Elaina Mitchell | Tax Project Manager
(412) 515-0547
pronouns: she/her/hers
Elaina Mitchell got her start with Just Harvest as an intern for the VITA program. She was later involved as a reviewer and site coordinator before being hired in 2020 to manage Just Harvest’s tax sites. Elaina is from Homer City, PA, and earned a bachelor’s in linguistics from the University of Pittsburgh. She now lives in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood where she enjoys reading, gardening, doing taxes, and being outside with her cats.
“Having access to basic daily needs is essential for survival. Our current economic system is set up to reward the wealthy and to punish the poor, thereby leaving people in the lurch to survive in today’s society. Appropriate and safe food is critical for health, wellness, and security. SNAP helps to alleviate hunger, and it can be a huge relief for people who are stretched to the margins.”
Sarah Read | SNAP Specialist
(412) 567-1557
pronouns: she/her/hers
Growing up on a farm in a very rural part of Washington County, Sarah Read remembers how a single trip to a grocery store was something that had to be planned because the nearest grocery store was 30 minutes away, but food was abundant. Sarah has been on the other end of the spectrum too, receiving WIC and SNAP at times when raising her children. Sarah earned a bachelor’s from the University of Pittsburgh in communications and rhetoric and spent many years as a stay-at-home parent. Most of her professional experience has been in human services, working as a breastfeeding counselor at Washington County WIC and also time as a COVID-19 contact tracer for PA Department of Health. In 2023, Sarah earned her master’s in social work from Penn West California, during which she interned at Just Harvest as the public policy intern. She lives in Glenshaw, PA with her kids, cats, and a few pygmy goats.
“Public policies and programs are the best way to support low-income members of our community, but they are currently inadequate and unfair. The process does not incorporate the voice, perspectives, and realities of low-income consumers. My goal is to bring those perspectives to decision-makers to protect and improve programs that support basic human needs.”
Ann Sanders | Director of Public Benefits Policy and Programs
(412) 643-3530
pronouns: she/her/hers
Having grown up receiving food stamps, Ann Sanders is very dedicated to ending hunger for all. She has been involved with Just Harvest since 2007 when she served as an intern at the School of Social Work. Since then, she served a term on our board of directors and has worked as a tax preparer, SNAP specialist, volunteer coordinator, and public policy advocate. She was promoted to her current position in 2023. Ann completed her master’s in social work and master’s in international development from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 and currently resides with her family in Observatory Hill.
“I know what it’s like to struggle from paycheck to paycheck and a lot of the financial resources available to low-income workers do not have their best interest at heart. I also know what it’s like to wait in line at a Food Bank and people are not struggling due to lack of effort, they’re struggling due to lack of opportunity. It’s time we stopped the vilification of low-income workers.”
Vaughn Schmid | FTP Coalition Tax Training Manager
(412) 365-5874
pronouns: he/him/his
Vaughn Schmid grew up in Munhall and after graduating high school, worked various part-time jobs before going back to school at the age of 29. He earned associate’s degrees from CCAC before transferring to Pitt to get a bachelor’s in accounting and finance, and finally a pair of master’s degrees from the Katz Graduate School of Business. Vaughn joined the Free Tax Preparation Coalition as a volunteer in 2010 while attending graduate school. He became part of the Just Harvest family in 2013 as a reviewer in our free tax prep program, and in 2021 accepted a position as the FTP Coalition’s tax training manager.
“I am passionate about helping Just Harvest build connections – with people and with information. Connecting the dots is what makes Just Harvest unique.”
Heather Seiders | Director of Engagement
(412) 200-7594
pronouns: she/her/hers
Heather Seiders manages Just Harvest’s daily office operations and has been with us since 2008. Heather’s work spans all programs at Just Harvest and focuses on improving our service delivery through data management and system design. She works as our staff lead on fundraising and development and coordinates our annual fundraiser. Heather graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s in creative nonfiction writing, and she enjoys reading, painting, and spending time outdoors with her family.
“I find that a lot of folks often don’t even realize what resources and benefits are available to them in times of crisis or to satisfy ongoing needs. Through my work at Just Harvest I can bring knowledge of those services to the greater community, assist people in securing and maintaining those resources, and advocate on their behalf. There are too many people living with food insecurity in Allegheny County, and it is so important for us to solve this crisis as a society. Just Harvest is doing that work; from the direct services we offer to the grassroots organizing and policy action that we are committed to.”
Amanda Sloane | Fresh Access Coordinator
(412) 676-7036
pronouns: she/her/hers
Amanda Sloane came to Just Harvest in 2019 from the Bellevue Farmers Market, which she managed from its inception through its success as a vibrant weekly community service. During her tenure there, she coordinated relationships among vendors, SNAP, regional government, volunteers, business leaders, and funders to ensure broad participation and enhance community health. She worked as a SNAP specialist at Just Harvest until the 2023 market season, when she became the Fresh Access coordinator. Amanda previously worked with Animal Friends, facilitating service experiences for community members. Amanda holds a bachelor’s in public service, public service/public administration, and nonprofit management from the University of Pittsburgh. She lives with her family in Bellevue, where she serves on the Borough Council.
“Low-income workers are often prey to unscrupulous businesses at tax time who are trying to get a piece of their tax refund. Workers need access to tax preparation services that they can trust to provide high-quality service at no cost so they can use their Earned Income Tax Credit for its original intent: to pay bills that their paychecks aren’t big enough to cover. Our dedicated volunteers and staff also provide some targeted financial education when possible and learn something themselves about the often complex financial lives of the taxpayers we serve.”
Kristie Weiland Stagno | FTP Coalition Program Director
(412) 436-3716
pronouns: she/her/hers
Kristie Weiland Stagno is from Butler, PA, and completed her master’s in social work at the University of Michigan before coming to Just Harvest in 2003. Kristie started at Just Harvest as an intern promoting the Earned Income Tax Credit and soon added a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site to meet the need for free, quality tax assistance for low-income workers. Over several years, she grew that site to the largest site in Western PA and added three other sites in Allegheny County. Under Kristie’s leadership, Just Harvest started the Free Tax Prep Coalition in 2006, to facilitate collaboration among nonprofits operating VITA sites in the region. She is currently the director of the Free Tax Prep Coalition, supporting VITA sites throughout Southwestern PA, and sits on the Policy Advocacy Committee at the Taxpayer Opportunity Network. Kristie lives in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood with her family.
“Community is strongest when the voices of all can be heard in an accessible, collective space. I work to share vital resources and information with individuals and families of Pittsburgh and beyond — highlighting the incredible work of our staff and uplifting the voices of others.”
Katherine Taylor | Communications Coordinator
(412) 484-0182
pronouns: she/they
Katherine Taylor grew up in a small town in Columbus, Ohio where they learned the importance of community power and were inspired by the strength of kindness in the face of adversity. Their degree in Fine Art and Animation from University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning introduced them to utilizing creativity to contribute to positive social change. From a background working in spaces of art, education, and marketing, Katherine was passionate to get involved with Just Harvest’s mission and connect with people in the Pittsburgh community. In their role as Communications Coordinator, they aim to help share the important work of the Just Harvest staff, and engage in unique and impactful storytelling. In their free time, you can likely find them at local arts events or gazing at birds in one of Pittsburghs many beautiful parks.
“I care about the work I am doing here at Just Harvest because the focus is ‘people’. I genuinely care about the health and wellbeing of all humans no matter their circumstances. I strive to make a difference in just one person’s life every day, and if I can do that simple thing then I feel very accomplished! No one should EVER go hungry, EVER!”
Leigha Vaughn | SNAP Specialist
(412) 676-7098
pronouns: she/her/hers
Leigha Vaughn was born and raised in Pittsburgh—specifically, a low-income neighborhood in the east end of the city. She watched her household and neighbors struggle to make ends meet her entire life and decided at a young age that she would do what she could to help uplift her community. Leigha worked in the non-profit field off and on in some capacity for the eight years prior to joining Just Harvest in early 2021. Most notable was the YMCA but her favorite was Bethlehem Haven, which is a shelter for displaced women. Through her work, Leigha’s children have adopted an affinity for the homeless, and she is very proud of the way they give of themselves because of it. She plans to spend the rest of her natural life uplifting others and building on her children’s desire to do the same.
“Todos tenemos derechos independientemente del lugar donde venimos. El idioma universal es la ayuda al prójimo sin importar la barrera del lenguaje.”
Jimena Willey | Bilingual Tax Preparer and SNAP Specialist
412-489-2492
pronouns: she/her/hers
Jimena Willey was born and raised in Mexico City. She moved to Pittsburgh in 2012 and fell in love with the Steel City. She started working at Just Harvest in 2020 as a bilingual tax preparer, and never imagined doing tax returns would be so enjoyable. During Jimena’s time at Just Harvest she has done outreach for the Latino community in the Pittsburgh area. In 2022, she also joined the SNAP advocacy team to provide assistance in Spanish. Jimena loves being able to help her community by providing them with the information and tools to succeed. “It has been a great journey being able to serve the community and watching it grow.”
“Systemic poverty works against our communities and our connection to each other. It is consistent and collective work like our Free Tax Prep Coalition that ensures that hard working taxpayers have more of the earnings and accessible resources they deserve.”
Anna Woomer | Free Tax Prep Volunteer Manager
(412) 440-7943
pronouns: she/her/hers
Anna Woomer was raised in the coal towns of Washington County, where she witnessed how hard folks around her were working to put food on the table. Her degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh furthered her desire to connect social systems for the betterment of all people. Before working for Just Harvest, Anna was a Food Pantry Manager at Westview Hub where she loved engaging with new people in the neighborhood and understanding what would make a difference in their day to day life. Addressing the root causes of systemic poverty is what shaped her desire to work on public policy initiatives like the Free Tax Prep Coalition that help working people get the money they deserve. In her role at Just Harvest as the Free Tax Prep Volunteer Manager, she connects our coalition partners across six counties with resources to expand our volunteer network and connect more taxpayers to their tax refund benefits. In her free time, she enjoys reading, knitting, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
