Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX — Many events have been canceled this year and the consequences have been near and far-reaching.
The cancelation of United Methodists Women’s annual potato bar meant less spud consumption and less funding for the Whitman County Chaplaincy.
“I have to raise my own funds,” Chaplain Ron McMurray said, adding state law forbids public funds from being used to pay chaplains.
The chaplain’s annual budget is $35,000-$37,000.
McMurray’s job is supporting the emotional and mental well-being of victims of trauma and loss, law enforcement, fire fighters and EMS. He has been the full-time chaplain since 1998.
The chaplain is not an emergency responder like an EMT or deputy. He is only called out if there is trauma or loss.
McMurray recalled a recent case of a man who was taken by Life Flight to Spokane after his hand was caught in an auger. McMurray arrived and talked to the other workers on the scene, knowing one traumatic event can trigger another.
“We all carry baggage,” he said.
He listened to the others to assess how they were doing, talked and got them laughing. After 15-20 minutes of talking, he gave them his card in case anyone needed to talk more.
“If people need help, I can point them to the right resources,” he said.
McMurray does a lot of in-house work.
Daily, he defuses the deputies and others to keep them from being overwhelmed by a tidal wave of grief, he said.
“Trauma makes us all act in strange ways,” he said. “I try to keep it under control as much as possible.”
Usually, when there is a loss of life, McMurray conducts a debriefing with the responders. He can also do a critical stress debriefing which can be two to four hours, depending on the level of trauma.
When local deputies and emergency personnel handle a loss of life, it usually needs a critical debriefing.
“In this county, it’s probably someone you know,” McMurray said.
Before current restrictions, McMurray would also visit people in the hospital and sometimes do debriefings there.
While he is not allow to now, he still can visit people in the jail, if they request it. He works closely with the coroner to talk to the family of victims or trauma, getting them connected with people and resources to help them cope.
When the potato bar was canceled, the about $1,000 it raises was not given to the Chaplaincy program. The program is fully funded and supported by churches, individuals and organizations.
In addition to money, people have donated bags of stuffed toys and bears that are handed out at trauma scenes. Anyone who would like to help support the program can write to Whitman County Chaplaincy, P.O. Box 66, Colfax, WA 99111.
Jana Mathia is a reporter at the Whitman County Gazette.
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