Kathy McCabe

Interim Executive Team

Kathy’s career began in retail sales. She was the first female manager of an American chain of membership department stores owned by Lucky Stores. She came to Whidbey Island with her brother and sister-in-law to own and operate Freeland Hardware store. While she was managing her business she became a community activist. While she was serving as president of the Freeland Chamber of Commerce, she led a community effort to save Freeland’s nursing home, in which her Grandmother was a resident. While working on legislative work in Olympia and with her community it sparked her passion in creating a sense of belonging for ALL.

Kathy steps up when she acknowledges a need identified by her community. She has served as PTA president and legislative chair. She was chosen to become the Executive Director of Island County/Stanwood Community Network. The Networks were established through Washington State Legislation to address youth problem behaviors. Through the efforts of the Networks she helped start Island County’s Big Brother/Big Sister program plus multiple other programs to help support the youth in our community.

Because of Kathy’s retail experience she landed her dream job by being selected to serve as Good Cheer’s Food Bank and Thrift Store Executive Director. It was in her position as E.D. when she helped to lead an effort to work together with our local school district to build community gardens. Food grown is being used by the school district to feed and teach youth how to garden and the benefits of eating healthy food. The food bank to this day has fresh food on their shopping shelves daily. It feels like a full circle now that IRS has asked her to serve on the Interim Executive Team to oversee both the Thrift Store and Nutrition Program.