Director Dan McGinnis and Chief Greg Abrams said on Oct. 9, 2025, that an informal group of local pastors already responds to disasters in Benton Township and the city of Benton Harbor and that organizers have sought grant funding to formalize the effort into a special response team.

Why it matters: Pastors and clergy who provide on-the-ground support can help families with immediate needs — phone calls to employers, shelter, clothing and coordination with relief agencies — but speakers said a formalized team would require funding that has not yet been released.

Current practice and proposed team: McGinnis described pastors who have attended to families after shootings, house fires and other emergencies, saying they often work "on their own, their own dime." He said the group has been unofficially active for several years and that he and others have wanted to "quantify that and make an official team." "We've had disasters in Benton Township, in the city," McGinnis said, describing pastors who go to hospitals and homes to support families and make calls to arrange shelter or transportation.

Funding delays: McGinnis said grant money earmarked for the team "was supposed to have gotten like 2 or 3 years ago" but has not arrived. "We haven't gotten 24. Now we haven't gotten 25," he said, indicating funding expected in previous years remains outstanding. Because those funds have not been released, organizers have continued to rely on volunteer pastors who respond pro bono.

Local partners and roles: McGinnis named several local clergy who have participated in informal responses, including Pastor Maurice McAfee, Pastor Ken Robinson (Second Baptist) and Reverend Taylor, and said clergy and local chaplains assist families immediately after incidents. He said the intended model involves churches, social services and other stakeholders working together to provide both practical assistance and accountability.

Next steps: McGinnis said organizers remain in contact with potential funders and are pressing to secure the resources needed to formalize the response team. Until funding is secured, the group will continue to provide ad hoc assistance when incidents occur.