Founders

Wendy (left) and Michaeline (right) on WVBF radio in Taunton

The co-founders and co-directors of TacT are Michaeline Saladyga and Wendy Berry.  After a combined 10 years experience running a more traditional soup kitchen, Michaeline and Wendy decided to branch out and start TacT.

Utilizing their knowledge of serving a large number of guests with their generous hearts and hospitality, it only made sense for them to create the TacT experience.  Spend just one hour with these ladies and you will see how much this endeavor means to them and how hard they work to make it a reality.

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Board of Directors

Some of the hardest working folks around!

In addition to their ever-growing group of loyal volunteers, Michaeline and Wendy are supported by their other board members:
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​​​Cindy Bernard
ex officio 
My husband Darren and I have been married for 34 years.  We have two wonderful children, a son, Sean and a daughter Meghan.  I started volunteering at a soup kitchen over 20 years ago and have been volunteering at TacT since it opened in 2014.   I have been on the board since 2018. I am passionate about helping people with food insecurity.  What I enjoy most about my work at the meal center is the relationships I have formed with the guests.  We are a no questions asked center but always have a listening ear.  That gives me the most joy.

Becky Fernandes
Vice President

Maureen Borios
Secretary
I have been on the Board of Directors and an “we have an emergency” volunteer since the birth of TacT. It is difficult to explain how much I admire the Directors and the volunteers as they do their magic with whatever food items that they have and produce awesome meals. During the pandemic, the 5-Star meals were packaged and offered via a Grab & Go process, keeping guests and their families well-fed &, along with volunteers, safe from COVID transmission.
I have been married to my husband John for 50 years. We are the proud parents of Rachel (husband Kevin) and Jason (wife Kim) and the very proud grandparents of Ben & Sam. I have been a Registered Nurse for 50 years and became a Mental Health Counselor in 2015.

Patricia Corriveau
Treasurer
It’s my privilege to be the treasurer for the Tact since its inception in 2014.
I am retired from working within the financial side of several businesses & non-profits.  I am the proud mother to Barbra and grandmother to Matthew and Adam. My husband Al, a decorated Vietnam veteran, died as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.
I was pleased to become associated with TacT by managing the financial side of this important organization, but also in meeting the many people who provide the important services and energy that benefits the guests.

Tact helps families in so many ways, including just to be a friend to those in need.  The finances are always in the background of a great organization but an essential piece in the important process of providing for the needs of our guests.  Our mission cannot be accomplished without the financial help of our many supporters. I am pleased to continue to help in this area.

Michaeline Saladyga
Asst. Treasurer 
After a successful career as a caterer and event manager, I volunteered at Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen ultimately becoming the Director. With a new vision of what a meal center should be, Wendy Berry and I set out to open the Taunton Area Community Table. With the help of many dedicated volunteers, we were able to open the doors in January of 2015. Now retired, as the former co-director and co-founder of TacT,  I currently hold the position of Assistant Treasurer and oversee the food pantry aspect of the meal center. 
Married to my husband Stanley for almost 50 years, we are the proud parents of our daughter Sarah, the high school librarian in Portsmouth, RI and our son Joseph, the owner/operator of Savoury Kitchen catering in Park City, Utah. 

Mary Patricia Tranter, Ph.D. 
Board Member
Mary Pat was born and raised in the City of Taunton.  After graduating from Coyle and Cassidy High School in 1980, she went on to earn a B.A. in Biology from the College of the Holy Cross (1984) and a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from Harvard University (1991).  Though trained as a research scientist, Mary Pat returned to her roots in the fall of 1991 to teach science at her alma mater.  For 27 years, Mary Pat served in numerous roles at Coyle and Cassidy including teacher, guidance counselor, academic principal, principal and president.  In 2018, after 11 years as school president, Mary Pat was recruited to the Catholic Schools Office to become the Director of Strategic Initiatives.  A year later an opportunity arose at Morton Hospital for her to enter the world of healthcare.  Today she serves as Director of Business Development, Strategic Initiatives, and Patient Experience at Morton Hospital.

Sean Bettencourt,
Board Member

Deborah Ledo Boiros, ABR, SFR
Board Member 
Hailing from Westport, MA,  I came to Taunton to get my first Teaching job as a Kindergarten teacher as the first public kindergartens opened up in Taunton. After 2 years, I left and traveled the country and taught in Maine & Alabama including Muscle Shoals Technical College.  I returned to Taunton and have been on various volunteer boards. I left teaching and pursued various business opportunities including Advertising/Marketing. My degree is from Bridgewater State College; have graduate coursework in Marketing/Advertising & Adult Education.  I am married, have 3 adult children all of whom were educated in both public and private schools. Currently I am a Realtor and have had the fulfilling aspect of  “teaching”  Buyers and Sellers the quirks of Real Estate, especially First Time Buyers.  My travels showed me the need for organizations such as TACT especially in times of Recession. Hunger should never be a problem in the USA and organizations such as TACT help fulfill the need. We welcome all, no questions asked.

Phillip Duarte
Board Member
Phillip Duarte serves as a City Councilor in the City of Taunton. Phillip works as Chief Compliance Officer at Freshly Baked Company. Prior to this, he worked as a Legislative Aide to State Representative Carol Doherty after running her campaign for her special election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. His time at the State House began as a Researcher for the House Committee on Technology and Intergovernmental Affairs. Phillip is the Chair of the Taunton Pathways Committee, co-founder of Sustainable Taunton, and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Taunton Foundation. Phillip is a lifelong Taunton resident and holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Jennifer Lapierre
Board Member

Rebecca Trucchi Marcotte
Board Member
I recently joined the board of TaCT. I attended Taunton Catholic Schools from St Mary’s, TCMS, to Coyle and Cassidy High School. I then Graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston and graduated with a BA in Psychology. I now work for Trucchi’s Supermarkets as the Advertising and Marketing Manager. My involvement with Trucchi’s participation in Stuff the Bus and Stuff the Truck opened my eyes to how much our community can come together to help provide the great need for food donations. TacT is an incredible establishment that puts their heart and soul into making delicious meals. I am proud to be a small part of it.

William Mcguire
Board Member

Natalie Garcia 
Board Member
As you know my name is Natalie Garcia. I am a Taunton native; born and raised. Both my husband, Scott, and I feel strongly about our roots here in Taunton and chose to continue them by raising our 3 children here - our daughter, Olivia (9),  and our twin sons Jackson and Jonah (5). I am an English  high school teacher and have been for 18 years now; I currently teach at New Bedford High School. As for education -  I went to Catholic schools most of my life - Our Lady of Lourdes and TCMS - but went on to and graduated from Taunton High School in 2000. I then went on to graduate from Emmanuel College in Boston with a BA in History/Journalism with a minor in Secondary Education. In 2010, I graduated with my M.ed in Psychological Needs. 
I am a founding member of Taunton Diversity Network in which I am also the Public Relations Chair. Aside from that, I have my own small business - Bella Rose Crafty Creations - which I am a roots member for Love and Light Foundation that is also in Taunton. I am interested in joining and hope that you will have me. 

Advisory Board
Stanley J. Saladyga, Jr.
I live in Taunton with my wife Michaelina, of 48 years, we have two successful children and four grandchildren of whom we are very proud. I am a retired school teacher of 35 years, in the same community we live.  I joined the board of TACT in 2015. Prior to that I was an on-call volunteer used to complete tasks that needed to be done, anything from mowing the lawn to picking up food and donations.  I also was a member of the Bethany House Advisory Board for 4 years.  I believe that the mission of TACT is a cause that should be supported.

Join Boiros
Carol Doherty