Operation Freedom Exchange Brings SAFE Fund Support to Pettis County
When a first responder is lost in the line of duty, the impact reaches far beyond the call itself. Families are left grieving while also facing urgent financial uncertainty. A new program coming to Pettis County is designed to help ease that burden during the hardest moments.
Operation Freedom Exchange is bringing its Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment (SAFE) Fund to Pettis County, ensuring that the family of a fallen first responder receives an immediate $40,000 benefit. The funds are delivered within 24 to 48 hours, providing stability and peace of mind when families need it most.
Founded in 2024, Operation Freedom Exchange is still a young organization, yet its impact has already been felt across Missouri. In recognition of that work, the nonprofit was voted Missouri’s most impactful nonprofit for 2026. Its mission is grounded in practical, compassionate support for veterans, first responders, and their families.
“We exist to serve those who serve,” said Joe Chabino, President of Operation Freedom Exchange. “Our goal is to deliver meaningful, immediate support to veterans, first responders, and their families when they need it most.”
The SAFE Fund was created to address a reality many families face after a line-of-duty death. Insurance benefits and other assistance can take weeks or months to process, leaving families vulnerable during an already overwhelming time.
“As we all know, insurance takes a while,” said Matthew Irwin, Fire Chief for the Sedalia Fire Department. “This is an immediate check. Within 24 to 48 hours, surviving spouses will receive the benefit, which can make a real difference when everything else feels uncertain.”
Only a small number of counties in Missouri and Kansas currently have access to the SAFE Fund, making its arrival in Pettis County especially meaningful for local first responders and their loved ones.
“It’s about peace of mind,” said Joe Parnell, a board member of Operation Freedom Exchange and a firefighter with the Sedalia Fire Department. “Knowing that families here will have that support if the worst happens matters more than people may realize.”
Sedalia Mayor Andrew Dawson said the SAFE Fund reflects the kind of care and responsibility a community owes to those who protect it.
“Our first responders show up on our worst days,” Mayor Dawson said. “This fund is about making sure their families are not left alone to navigate loss and uncertainty on their worst days. It’s a compassionate promise that this community stands with them, not just in words, but in action.”
Operation Freedom Exchange was founded by Chabino, a retired U.S. Navy veteran who served during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. After a service-related injury ended his military career, Chabino redirected his focus toward helping others who serve and sacrifice.
“People don’t always see what service members and fist responders carry with them,” Chabino said. “If we can bring even a small amount of peace to a family during an unimaginable time, then we’re doing what we set out to do.”
In addition to SAFE Fund, the organization supports veterans and first responders through several outreach programs. These include funding K9s on the Frontline, which has provided four service dogs to veterans and first responders, supporting Shop with a Hero with 200 meals, and delivering more than 450 Thanksgiving meals to veterans and first responders.
The organization’s work is largely funded through its annual Jeep event at the Lake of the Ozarks, which draws tens of thousands of Jeep enthusiasts from across the country.
“That event makes everything we do possible,” said Susan Parnell, Vice President of Operation Freedom Exchange. “It allows us to show up for families in real, tangible ways.”
Looking ahead, Operation Freedom Exchange hopes to expand the SAFE Fund to additional counties across Missouri, extending this layer of protection and compassion to more first responder families. For Pettis County, the program represents a meaningful step toward ensuring that when tragedy strikes, no family has to face it alone.