That spirit of showing up has been at the heart of The Other Way Ministries since 1967. Based on the Westside of Grand Rapids, The Other Way walks alongside neighbors through both everyday challenges and moments of crisis to help families build stability and strengthen their sense of community. From youth programs and food assistance to housing support and family advocacy, their mission is simple: empower people to thrive by meeting practical needs and nurturing relationships that last.

That same mission comes to life through Karl Williams and the Westside Emergency Crew, a volunteer group born out of a men’s ministry at The Other Way. What started as a few neighbors helping others shovel snow, fix flat tires and clear code violations has become a community-wide effort — completely free of charge.

For Karl, the idea was simple: what if we just helped each other in times of need? Today, his crew of more than twenty volunteers responds to everything from battery jumps and yard work to urgent, unexpected emergencies with a commitment to serve and uplift the people around them.

As Karl says, “Sometimes, people just need someone to show up for them in times of need.”

A Crew Powered by Opportunity Empowered

A few years ago, Karl received a grant through Opportunity Empowered, which gave him just enough to get the idea off the ground. With that support, he bought two electric snow blowers, a couple of lawn mowers, a lockout kit for car doors and other practical tools that solve everyday problems.

He also had something more powerful: a group of men and women willing to help. Together, they formed the foundation of what would become the Emergency Crew.

What started as helping elderly neighbors with leaf cleanup or shoveling snow quickly grew. They began changing flat tires, jumping dead batteries, cleaning out basements, patching drywall and even making emergency moves when residents were facing eviction.

“We’re not trying to be heroes. We’re just trying to be helpful,” Karl affirms.

Practical Help With a Personal Touch

The Westside Emergency Crew doesn’t operate like a typical service agency. They don’t send bills or run background checks. They respond to their callers as quickly as they can, and with the supplies they’ve gathered through grant funding and grassroots generosity.

Their territory officially covers the west side — John Ball to Seward, Wealthy to Leonard — but that hasn’t stopped them from expanding their reach. When Karl gets a call from someone in another neighborhood, including areas like 49507, he calls a crew member who lives nearby. They go.

“We don’t turn anybody away,” he proudly shares. “We just try to walk alongside our people the best we can.”

Always Thinking Ahead

Karl isn’t just responding to today’s emergencies. He’s planning for the ones nobody’s ready for.

He wants to equip his team with rafts, emergency kits, water pumps, propane heaters and generators. He dreams of mobile shower units, flashlights, batteries — even drones for hard-to-reach situations.

“If I could get a spacesuit, I’d get that too,” he jokes. “Because you just never know.”

But underneath the humor is a serious commitment: to be the group that’s ready when no one else is.

Karl isn’t in it for recognition. What drives him is the hope that this work will carry on long after he steps back. “I want to be that ministry. The one people remember. Ten years from now, I want someone to say, ‘Those were the guys that helped us.’ And when I’m retired, I want it to keep going.”

A Ministry that Moves

The impact that Other Way Ministries and Westside Emergency Crew has on the community is tangible. People they’ve helped have left them handwritten notes to express their gratitude, and local businesses and churches have happily donated supplies or services to help the Crew solve problems. Even neighbors who once received help themselves have returned to volunteer.

And while some of the work is routine, others are more emotionally charged. Karl recalls helping a woman in the middle of an eviction, salvaging family photos and furniture before strangers could take them off the lawn.

“There’s some lovely things in the world, and some not-so-lovely,” Karl shares. “We just try to be a helping hand any way we can.”

The Crew may not have a flashy name or big funding behind it, but it has something far more powerful: a network of people willing to serve, a community that believes in them and a leader who’s always thinking three steps ahead.

Because in Karl’s mind, love of neighbor doesn’t just show up — it comes prepared.

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