SAFE Harbor honors community heroes
Volunteers at Sister Sallie's thrift store in Ronan were among those honored by the organization as community heroes. (Kristi Niemeyer/Lake County Leader)
Heroes in the movies often appear larger than life. They have special abilities and wear some outrageous outfits. Not to mention teleportation, mind melding, and all the rest.
Local heroes might not have the same fashion sense or unusual skills, but they do share a dedication to helping others have a better life. In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (NDVAM), SAFE Harbor, the victim services agency for the Flathead Reservation and Lake County, recognized individuals making a difference for those dealing with violence.
The 2022 NDVAM Community Honorees include Polson Police Officer Aaron Sutton, SAFE Harbor advocate Jolene Schmitz, community member Carl Rohr, Providence-St. Joseph Medical Center doctor Jamie Straub, attorney Diana Garrett, Polson City Court Clerk Nora Walter, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Victim Assistance Program advocate and coordinator Trisha Johnson, community activist Meghan Upton and Sister Sallie’s Thrift Store volunteers.
SAFE Harbor recently honored this group for all they have done to support the community.
“It’s always exciting to see who is nominated,” said SAFE Harbor Executive Director DeeAnn Richardson. “So many people are doing such important work, it’s always a challenge to decide the finalists.”
Officer Sutton was selected for “going the extra mile” in supporting victims. Schmitz received the honor based on her commitment and dedication to helping clients, no matter what it takes. Rohr has been a local supporter of SAFE Harbor for a decade, donating his original quilts to help raise funds for the agency.
Garrett was chosen for sharing her professional knowledge and mentorship of new attorneys. Walter has been helping victims and their families through her work as the court clerk, showing empathy and understanding. Dr. Straub is an obstetrics and gynecology specialist who has been a part of the leadership in setting up SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) training to help nurses support victims.
Johnson’s nomination noted her nearly two decades of service to the field. Upton, an Arlee High School senior, carried out a special project collecting personal care products for victims. The volunteers at Sister Sallie’s Thrift Store share their time and energy on a daily basis to help keep the operation going.
“Every one of these people is a role model,” Richardson noted. “Each of them reflects the best in humanity, helping in their own way to carry out SAFE Harbor’s mission to assist survivors in our community.”