For Immediate Release – 7/21/23

There are events that occur that present organizations with new challenges but also new opportunities. Today we have a bittersweet announcement. The Hutto Resource Center Board of Directors announces that our founding Executive Director, Donna Jones, has accepted a position with the Round Rock Hope Alliance.

For 4 ½ years, Donna Jones has served the greater Hutto Community and its citizens with compassion, empathy, and humility. Former Board Chair, Stacie Feller, “As Hutto Resource Center’s very first executive director, Donna was instrumental in the successful merger of Hutto Has Heart and the Hutto Community Food Pantry. Her desire to help others has been a major asset to not just Hutto Resource Center, but to the Hutto Community.” During her tenure as Executive Director, the Hutto Resource Center expanded its program offerings, weathered the pandemic, grew from a staff of one to a staff of three, and strengthened partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, which allowed the Hutto Resource Center to better serve its stakeholders.

Former Board Chair, Connie Gooding, expressed her thanks for Donna’s leadership. “Donna came to the Hutto Resource Center at the time we needed organizational leadership to guide us through unprecedented challenges of increased demand for our services and a pandemic. We were fortunate to have her nonprofit experience and her willingness to lead us into new territories.” “It has been my great pleasure to serve the Hutto community and the Hutto Resource Center the last 4 1/2 years.”, said Donna. “With such bittersweet emotions, I must pass the torch to the next great leader of the HRC as I move forward and start a new chapter in my life. I will not be leaving Hutto, I will just be serving Hutto in a different capacity but with the same passion and commitment I hope everyone has seen during my time at the Hutto Resource Center.” Morgan Hubbard, current Hutto Resource Center Board Chair, shares, “We are forever thankful for the passion that Donna brought to the organization from the very first day she started with us. With an extensive background in advocacy for victims of Domestic Violence, we completely understand and celebrate her ability to leverage her experience and talents to continue that service. We are fortunate as an organization to have an incredible staff that believes in our mission and vision to improve lives and outcomes in this community. Our incredible Office Assistant, Laura Wells, has such strong connections with our clients and stakeholders—we appreciate her willingness to lead us during this transition.”

Laura Wells will fill the role as Interim Executive Director until a replacement is hired. With a
25-year background working in small organizations/associations and just over two years with
the HRC, we believe she can maintain the level of excellence and compassion our community
has come to expect.

When reflecting on what Donna’s leadership meant to the organization, Laura shares, “Donna’s
enthusiasm for the mission of the Hutto Resource Center is only surpassed by her heart for
service. As the HRC’s first Executive Director, she worked hard to create our brand, leading by
example with compassion, respect, and the preservation of dignity for our clients. Her vision for
our organization focused both inward and outward – striving to determine how we can best
care for our community within the HRC while searching for strategic partners outside the
agency to provide further assistance to our clients. We are enormously proud of how she has
helped us grow. “

The Hutto Resource Center anticipates little to no noticeable impact on the public during this
transition. In fact, we anticipate an even stronger relationship and ability to refer clients
experiencing domestic violence more seamlessly to the Round Rock Hope Alliance. While it will
be impossible to replace Donna, the board will be posting and interviewing for a permanent
Executive Director in the coming weeks. More information about the position will be posted on
our website by July 28th.

The Hutto Resource Center is a nonprofit relief organization that serves the Hutto ISD
attendance area by connecting those experiencing a variety of hardships with resources that
can give them some immediate assistance. For more information about the Hutto Resource
Center, please visit www.huttoresourcecenter.org or call our office 512-688-0176.