By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of Directors of BrightHouse are pleased to announce the appointment of Sue Wray to the position of Executive Director. Wray joins the organization at the end of March. Donna Davis will retire in the first week of May.
"I'm just really excited," Davis said. "I think Sue will do a great job and just, in the feedback I hear from staff and other people, we've made a great choice."
Wray most recently has been with Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, where she served in a dual communications and Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation role. Davis knows she'll have a learning curve.
"We're the only agency in this whole area that does the kind of work that we do," Davis said. "I think that's the first thing. What is it that we help with in the community that nobody else does? How do we keep people safe? How do we help victims? How do we support survivors? I think that's the biggest thing."
BrightHouse currently serves Reno, Rice, Kingman and Harper counties, and was established in 1976 as a hotline service for victims of domestic or sexual abuse, human trafficking and stalking.
"Right now, we're looking for volunteers," Davis said. "We need a volunteer for every Tuesday night for an hour for our support group. Another thing we tell people is if you see it happening, please say something. Don't ignore it. Talk to people about it, about domestic violence, about sexual assault. Don't turn your back. Don't pretend it's not happening."
BrightHouse provides a 24-hour Crisis Line (620-663-2522), an emergency shelter, safety planning, legal advocacy, supervised parenting time and links to community services.