About Us – The heart of our community

Our Vision:

A community that invests in one another so all are respected, valued, and empowered to thrive.

Our Mission:

Waunakee Neighborhood Connection builds a strong community by empowering people through programming, engagement, and resources based on evolving needs.

Our Story

Once upon a time, a woman saw a need. A single mom was asking for help to find a safe home for herself and her two boys. Children were walking to school without warm winter coats. Another mom was undergoing intense medical treatment, limiting her ability to care for her family and herself.

In 2003, when our founder, Genna Eaton, observed these needs, she organized an effort to meet those requests by reaching out to her community neighbors. The mission of helping neighbors was embraced by the community. Before long, volunteers came forward and step-by-step developed a process of helping neighbors – first, through the schools and then by partnering with Dane County Social Worker, Bob Blankenhagen. From there, it grew quickly. Programs were developed based on the needs observed. Next steps included obtaining a space, formalizing the organization, creating a Board of Directors, coordinating efforts with other area resources and developing and cultivating community partners including schools, churches, businesses, individual families and other service organizations.

Since Waunakee Neighborhood Connection received its 501(c)(3) non-profit status on February 14, 2007, the organization has served more than one thousand families. We provide numerous free need-based programs and services, and volunteer opportunities that result in thousands of volunteer hours and lives touched each year. We moved into our current building in October 2023, putting us in the same building as the Waunakee Food Pantry, making it easier for clients to get help from both organizations and allowing us to better collaborate on services. Our current space houses our free store along with work and meeting spaces for staff, volunteers, and clients.

Who We Serve

Oftentimes, people are surprised that an organization such as Waunakee Neighborhood Connection exists in our community because they look around and do not see much evidence of need. However, we know that nearly 4% of our neighbors are living below the poverty line and another 18%, which is about 2000 households, live below what is known as the ALICE threshold. ALICE stands for asset limited, income constrained, employed, and the threshold is currently $24,492 for a single adult and $63,324 (after a $14,880 child tax credit) for a family of four. Thus, we have many neighbors who are working one or more jobs yet not making enough income to meet their expenses of daily living.

Some families are with us for a very short time during an unexpected crisis, while others are with us for many years. Regardless of the timeframe, we are here to provide programs and resources that empower them to create a life where they can feel stable and secure.

Our Staff

Verónica Castillo | Executive Director

Verónica Castillo has dedicated her career to uplifting underserved communities through education, advocacy, and compassionate service. Since joining Waunakee Neighborhood Connection as Executive Director in June 2024, she has brought a wealth of experience and a deeply personal commitment to ensuring that communities of color have access to the resources and support they deserve. Verónica holds a Bachelor's Degree in Art History with a Minor in Non-Profit Administration from the University of Iowa and a Master's Degree in Bilingual Education from Edgewood College. Her career spans more than two decades of meaningful work — from teaching bilingual students in Madison Metropolitan School District, to leading outreach efforts at Madison Ballet, to serving as GED Coordinator at Latino Academy of Workforce Development. Each role has shaped her belief that strong communities are built when people show up for one another. Born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Iowa City, Iowa, Verónica has called Madison home since 2010. Her own lived experiences fuel her passion for advocacy and her understanding of the barriers many families face. She is honored to lead Waunakee Neighborhood Connection into its next chapter — growing its reach and continuing to meet the evolving needs of the Waunakee community with heart, purpose, and dedication.

Lidia Silva Rios | Director of Community Partnerships

Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Lidia Silva Rios joined Waunakee Neighborhood Connection as Community Resource Manager in February 2025. With over a decade of experience in community outreach and translation services, she is passionate about supporting families and ensuring they have access to the essential resources and support they need to thrive. Before stepping into this role, Lidia dedicated 10 years to Tower Rock Elementary in the Sauk Prairie School District, serving as a translator, family liaison, and Director of the After School Program. In these roles, she built strong relationships with many families, particularly those navigating language or cultural challenges, and played a key role in bridging communication between parents, educators, and community services. Her commitment to advocacy and community support has shaped her career.
At Waunakee Neighborhood Connection, Lidia is eager to develop programs, strengthen partnerships, and foster a welcoming environment where families feel empowered and connected. She is committed to ensuring every individual, regardless of background, has the support they need to build a stronger future.

Maria Angeles | Store Lead

Maria brings over 13 years of customer service experience and a genuine passion for helping people. Known for her approachable nature and strong communication skills, she enjoys building meaningful connections while solving problems efficiently and thoughtfully. As a bilingual professional, Maria supports a diverse range of customers with empathy, patience, and care. Her positive attitude and people-first mindset help create welcoming experiences for both customers and teammates.

Lindsey Helt | Office Administrator

Lindsey originally joined Waunakee Neighborhood Connection as a member of their Board of Directors in October 2023 before being hired as Office Administrator in February 2024. In this role, she manages daily tasks as it relates to the business functions of the organization, including communication, finances, event planning, grant writing, and other special projects as they arise. Her educational background includes a degree in Business Administration from Indiana University and an Elementary Teaching Certificate earned at Alverno College. With career experiences in both the Business and Education fields, as well as many years of volunteer work, Lindsey brings a wide variety of organizational and interpersonal skills to her role, in addition to her eternal optimism!

Charlotte Drake | Intern

Charlotte Drake is a junior at Waunakee High School who joined WNC as an intern in September 2026. In her role, she helps maintain the Care Closet, facilitates the Bundle and Connect Program, and assists with Youth Programming. She wanted to join WNC because it was a great opportunity to give back to her community while developing her communication and leadership skills. Outside of her internship, she enjoys dancing, spending time with her family, and being on the lake. Through her internship, Charlotte hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of others while providing support to the WNC organization and the community it serves.

Gyasey Ponsar | Intern

Gyasey is currently a Junior in High school and joined Waunakee Neighborhood Connection as an intern in September 2026. She really enjoys volunteering and giving back to her community and is excited to have the opportunity to make a positive impact through WNC. Through her role as an intern, she will be providing assistance through our social media pages on Instagram and Facebook by creating posts that inform our community about what WNC has to offer. She hopes to major in marketing when she attends college and is excited to gain real experience in social media and marketing through this internship.

Kaylee Pritchett-Halink | Intern

Kaylee Pritchett-Halink is a junior in high school and joined Waunakee Neighborhood Connection in September of 2026 as an intern. She is focusing on the Birthday Program and assisting the WNC in all of its needs. Kaylee hopes to make a positive impact by giving back to the community. She is excited to gain valuable experience through non-profit work and to learn more about serving others. Outside of her internship, she enjoys running, reading, and spending time in nature.

Sharon Ye | Intern

Sharon Ye joined Waunakee Neighborhood Connection (WNC) in August 2025 as an intern who assists with data entry, inventory tracking, poster making, and other tasks regarding the Care Closet. Raised in Waunakee, she is currently a senior at Waunakee Community High School who aspires to become a sonographer, and pursue an education in medicine. Sharon hopes to improve her skills through this internship, and get involved in something meaningful that makes a difference. With various volunteering experiences, constant involvement in school clubs, and a passion for community solidarity, she is driven to help the non-profit organization as they work to support struggling individuals, students, and families in need.