WILLIAMSBURG — Grove Christian Outreach Center announced Monday the appointment of Lauren Landis as its new Operations Director.
The center says that with a strong background in nonprofit leadership, direct service and community impact, Landis brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to serving vulnerable families in the Greater Williamsburg area.
The Virginia native was born in Reston and spent much of her youth in Central Texas before attending William & Mary. From her earliest years, Grove noted she felt called to service — spending summers working at a Christian camp for children with special needs — and that calling has shaped the course of her career.
After finishing college, Landis began her nonprofit journey with an internship at An Achievable Dream in Newport News. She went on to serve with the Children’s Hospital Foundation in Richmond and later the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, gaining hands-on experience in both development and direct outreach. Most recently, she focused on grassroots environmental advocacy and climate change solutions.
“I’m still very passionate about environmental work, but I always had the long-term goal to return to local, direct service centered around hunger relief,” Landis said. “When I saw the opening at Grove, I knew it was the right fit. The mission and the role really aligned with all of the priorities I was keeping an eye out for — commitment to serving vulnerable families by providing immediate resources.”
In her new role alongside Executive Director Katie Patrick, the center said Landis will focus on supporting Grove’s day-to-day operations while looking ahead to how the organization can continue growing sustainably and meeting evolving community needs.
“Our goal is really to be true neighbors to the group of community members we serve,” she said. “We hope to have a very tangible, direct impact on their lives to ensure that their most basic needs are met.”
To learn more about the outreach center, visit its official website.
