Cowboy Dave

CROOKSVILLE, Ohio – Natural disasters come in many forms before they develop into relief efforts, which evolve in phases and require many tasks throughout the process.  

‘Cowboy’ Dave Graham is the President of Hearts Hurt, a nonprofit based in Newark, which travels across the country providing hands-on assistance to local communities when disasters strike.

“With 9-11, I had the opportunity to go to ground zero in New York City and I was asked to serve two different positions, which really impacted me,” Graham said. “And then along came Katrina and other things. And as I participated, God gave me a heart for doing local missions. But Hearts Hurt is a first impact ministry, instead of a first responder. So we go ahead of a hurricane to ground zero or we go behind a tornado or a school shooting or a train derailment or any of those things.”

The mission of Hearts Hurt is to boost morale without offending the community. Graham often spray-paints collected debris with his broken heart logo along with encouraging slogans to demonstrate that someone cares.  

“Right now, we learned there was a lady sleeping in her car at the Circle K and has since the original flood,” Graham said. “My camper was right beside it, I didn’t know. And her son was killed in a head-on crash last night. And the only reason I knew that was because I stay onsite. And then we just try to help people. And it transitions from impact to supplies, to encouragement. And starting in a couple of days, my supply site there at the Family Dollar will convert into a Heart Hurt?, Stop And Talk.”

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a common but undiscussed trait that appears in the wake of natural disasters. Cowboy Dave says his Stop And Talk will not be for preaching and that anyone is welcome to bring a bible or a beer because he’ll just be there to listen.