Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) and Barry County Emergency Management Department (BCEM) are immensely grateful to the many organizations, agencies, businesses, and community members who contributed their time, expertise, resources, and support throughout the ricin response.
Response and public safety partners included: Hastings Police & Fire Department; City of Hastings; Barry County; Barry-Eaton District Board of Health; Barry County Humane Society; Barry County Dispatch/911; Barry County Prosecuting Attorney; Barry County Sheriff’s Department; Barry County Drain Commission, Barry County Animal Control; Hastings Department of Public Services; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Michigan State Police (MSP); Michigan National Guard’s 51st Civil Support Team; Thornapple Township Fire Department & EMS, Mel Oakley, Life EMS, Kent County Health Department; Kent County Sheriff's Department; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START); Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS); MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories (BOL); Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); and Region 5 Healthcare Coalition.
Healthcare and service partners included: Barry County United Way; Barry County Commission on Aging; Barry County Community Mental Health Authority; The Ability Collective of Barry County; Corewell Health Pennock Hospital Emergency Department; Corewell Health Grand Rapids; Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center; American Red Cross; and The Salvation Army of Battle Creek.
Community businesses, organizations, churches, and individuals included: Barry Community Foundation; Tyden Lofts (KMG Prestige & General Capital Group); BELFOR Environmental; Onterris; E3 Environmental; Barry County Transit; Hastings Pharmacy; The Shack in Delton; Manna’s Market; Serenity Club; Highpoint Community Bank; Seasonal Grille; Mexican Connexion; Walldorff Brew Pub & Bistro; Friends of Barry County COA; All Call Restoration; Holiday Inn Express Hastings; Court-Side Screen Printing and Embroidery; First Presbyterian Church; Hastings Baptist Church; Venue 1230; Living Waters Church; Applebee's; Hungry Howie's; Jimmy John’s; TriFit; Sports Tap; Peace Church; Nashville Baptist Church; Emmanuel Episcopal Church; Barry ISD; Consumers Energy; The Ziny Family; Andrew & Kristen Cove; Don & Carrie Wilgus; Chelsey Foster; and Megan Lavell.
The coordination, expertise, generosity, and continued commitment of these partners helped make it possible to assess and remediate the building, safely clear Tyden Lofts for resident re-entry, and support residents throughout their displacement. Community partners provided meals, clothing, personal care items, pet food and other animal care supplies, emotional and mental health support, financial and resource assistance, and many other forms of practical support. This response was a display of true community collaboration, and BEDHD is deeply grateful to everyone who stepped forward to help residents and the Hastings community during an extremely difficult and uncertain time.
