Benton Harbor organization committed to helping residents get water

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — While MDHHS has been supplying Benton Harbor with bottled water and choosing partners to help with its distribution, organizations like Mosaic CCDA – which has been here for 15 years – say they’ve been able to lend a hand to the state because they’re boots on the ground and impacted by the water crisis themselves.  

“It’s more of a helping hand, you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours,” said Jamal McGee, Warehouse Manager at Mosaic CCDA.  

Mosaic CCDA is now up to five days a week where they’re making bottled water delivery. 

“168 cases per shift and there’s two shifts a day,” said Gabrielle Engle, COO of Mosaic CCDA.  

Many of those bringing the water to residents homes live in Benton Harbor as well and share their struggle. 

“It’s a joy when they come to the door and say thank you so much and to help one another because we all need it,” said McGee. 

When it comes to doing the door-to-door drop offs, they need people in it for the long haul as bottled water is going to be a necessity for awhile.

Mosaic now has the ability to pay residents to become delivery drivers. 

“We get to hire drivers as independent contractors who then go out utilizing our delivery truck to go door-to-door,” said Engle.   

Mosaic is even identifying a new need as a result of all the plastic coming into the city.

“We would drop off bags while we’re dropping off water that we would then to pick up and make it part of a recycling program,” said Engle.

Mosaic asks any resident looking for water delivery to call the state at 211 as they compile the list.