Chaplains back up emergency personnel

When emergency responders, their families or people in crisis need spiritual support, Drew Buckner and his cadre of volunteer chaplains stand ready to help — day or night.

Buckner is the executive director and lone paid staff member of Braveheart, a nonprofit organization formed in 2010 that provides chaplain services to a number of emergency responders, their family members and others who need support during or after a crisis. The emergency response agencies provide no financial support to Braveheart, which relies solely on donations.

Buckner, a Baptist minister, began working as a volunteer chaplain in 2005 when he was a full-time church pastor, and formed the nonprofit agency when it became clear to him that being a chaplain to emergency responders was his calling. Braveheart Chaplain Ministry serves agencies including the Kalispell Fire Department, Kalispell Police Department, ALERT Air Ambulance and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. Chaplains also serve other agencies upon request.

“I spend my time getting to know them [people in law enforcement] so when something does happen, the relationship is already there,” Buckner said.

Braveheart is a new affiliate of the United Way, which allows donors to the annual United Way campaign to designate Braveheart as a recipient of part or all of their gifts.

Braveheart is just one of the many agencies and services that benefit from the local United Way campaign.  

“Work United, Give United, Live United” is the theme of the 2013 United Way fund drive that benefits a variety of nonprofit agencies across Northwest Montana.

The monetary goal for this year’s fundraising campaign is $600,000.

Becky Sturdevant of Kalispell knows firsthand how Braveheart’s service can help during heartbreaking situations.

Sturdevant’s son, Montana Highway Patrol Officer Evan Schneider, was killed in a head-on collision near Columbia Heights in August 2008. Schneider died shortly before his 30th birthday.

Sturdevant met Buckner shortly after learning of her son’s death, and he conducted the funeral service and helped guide the family through a difficult time.

“Braveheart is a really important ministry,” Sturdevant said. “We try to support Drew and his volunteers and all those who are out there helping our troops. They are in danger all the time. They do it to protect us. There’s a thin blue line that protects us from chaos. If they weren’t there, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy our beautiful land.”

In the years since her son’s death, Buckner has stayed in touch with Sturdevant and her family.

“Drew continued to be a support to us over the years,” she said. “You keep thinking someday you’ll be able to get through a week without being reminded that he’s gone — but it hasn’t happened yet.”

Buckner said the name Braveheart reflects the agency’s mission.

“It reminds me that I work for people with brave hearts,” Buckner said. “It reminds me to be brave and courageous when I speak to people in crisis.”

Donations to the annual fund drive benefit United Way member agencies and services in Flathead County, serving thousands of local individuals and families. Last year, member agencies helped 51,631 people in need. The campaign continues through Dec. 31.

Donors may choose how to give, including cash, payroll deductions, charging to credit cards, direct billing or through automatic bank transfers. Donors also may designate which member agencies or local affiliated partner agencies or the Montana Shares Federation they want to receive their gifts.

For more information on United Way, call 752-7266. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 7217, Kalispell, MT 59904.

A recurring theme of the campaign is building, connecting and strengthening the community, focusing on the difference that an individual can make to help meet everyday needs of everyday people. The United Way has a variety of suggestions for ways that people can improve the world around them. The campaign emphasizes the slogan “Build a Strong Foundation” through one community fulfilling needs all around us.

Current member agencies are Big Brothers and Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, Eagle Transit,  Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Literacy Volunteers, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center and the Violence Free Crisis Line and Abbie Shelter.

Services supported by the United Way include CASA for Kids, Disaster Care Services, Gateway Community Center, Leaders of Tomorrow, United Way 2-1-1 Montana Database Project, AARP and VITA Tax Service and the United Way Volunteer Center and Youth Suicide Prevention Project.

The United Way also supports the following emergency food and shelter programs in Northwest Montana: Bread Basket, Community Harvest Food Bank, DOVES, Helping Hands, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Lake County Mental Health Center, Lamplighter House Kitchen, Lincoln County Crisis Solutions, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Neighbors in Need, North Valley Food Bank, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Meal Program, Sanders County Coalition for Families, Thompson Falls Food Pantry and Troy Food Pantry.

The United Way also provides community resources including the annual Answer Book, a counseling directory and a Volunteer Center.