photo by: Contributed

Brett Hartford

Just Food’s board of directors has selected a Lawrence native as the food bank’s new executive director, the nonprofit announced in a news release Friday morning.

Brett Hartford, scheduled to begin on Dec. 5, will return to the community after 10 years working for nonprofit City Relief in New York City.

Just Food has been searching for a permanent executive director since May, when its last director, Elizabeth Keever, left the role to take the chief development officer role at Heartland Community Health Center. Interim executive director Brett Salsbury left a few months later, after announcing his departure effective Oct. 7. Since then, Just Food staff has reported directly to the board’s executive committee while the search for a permanent director has continued.

“I am beyond excited to make a return to Lawrence and be a part of the amazing reputation that the staff, volunteers and supporters at Just Food have already established toward ending hunger in Douglas County and making food access equitable for all of our neighbors,” Hartford said in the release.

Hartford graduated from Free State High School and has since worked in nonprofit organizations. In his time in New York City, Hartford served as director of outreach, director of operations and, most recently, director of partnerships.