Brett Hartford is the new executive director of Lawrence’s DARE (Drop-In and Rest) Center, its board of directors announced Wednesday.
Hartford began serving in his role at the DARE Center on Nov. 14, following the retirement of founder Loring Henderson, according to a news release from the organization.
Operating under the Lawrence Coalition for Homeless Concerns Inc., the DARE Center’s mission is to provide resources and a place to rest for people experiencing homelessness and their advocates.
“We are excited to have Brett Hartford lead The DARE Center into its next phase,” Tony Kaufman, of the DARE Center’s board of directors, said in the release. “Hartford brings robust expertise of work directly engaging and supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. His in-depth understanding of the support systems necessary for this community, coupled with his adeptness in volunteer engagement, strategic partnerships, and fundraising, underscores his alignment with our organization’s mission.”
Hartford, who’s from Lawrence, previously served as the executive director of Just Food, the Douglas County food bank, for a brief time. Prior to that, he worked with City Relief, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals facing homelessness in New York City, for a decade.
Hartford’s work with several nonprofits has been focused on making resources accessible to people, according to the release.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the community in Lawrence and provide leadership to the DARE Center’s mission of providing rest and resources to our neighbors experiencing homelessness and their advocates,” Hartford said in the release.
Learn more about the DARE Center on its website, darecenterlawrence.org.
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