ABC 57 Viewer inspired to help Benton Harbor baseball

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – The Youth Baseball Program in Benton Harbor might have found it's saving grace.

Tammy Pressler, a Niles woman, saw the ABC 57 News report Monday that highlighted a lack of funding for the program. Pressler was compelled enough to try and fill in the gap.

"It just tugged my heart,” Pressler said of the story. “I don't know why, something just hit me."

The mother of three just recently lost her job and has been praying for something help her. "Lord give me something to keep my mind going, something to make me realize how good life is,” Pressler prayed. “Then all of a sudden there was your news article on and I just haven't been able to get it out of my head, I haven't been able to shake it."

The Benton Harbor Youth Baseball program hasn’t been able to pay for uniforms, new equipment or referees for games.

"I know enough people this can't be that hard," said Pressler.

She got on Facebook last night and asked everyone she knew if they could help. Tuesday morning Pressler called Coach Danny Jennings, an organizer with the program, to see exactly what was needed.

In one tireless day of work Pressler got about a dozen referees willing to donate their time, uniforms priced out at a discount, an equipment drive in the works, and a photographer ready to take free, team pictures.

"That right there says a lot about the people we have in the world," said Jennings.

Pressler doesn't know the kids, the parents or the coaches in the program but this cause, she feels, is her calling.

"To me it's about teaching my kids what's important in life,” said Pressler. “We don't have everything but we have what we need and there are kids out there that don't have what they need so what can we do to help."

The Youth Baseball Program is still hoping Benton Harbor city commissioners decide to help fund the program with a $200,000 donation given to the city by Whirlpool Corporation.