Thank you, Alpena!

 We receive tremendous support from our friends in Alpena.

Delivering goods, including quilts, from Immanuel Lutheran Church

are (right to left) Denny Neumann, Jeremiah Neumann, and Jon Kindt.

Roger Bloomfield is our own dedicated  "box man."

For Her in Her Need

We don't know how it is to live in abject poverty. 

We don't know how the power of a single kindness

or comforting Word in such a distant circumstance may be felt.

But we do know Jesus.

And it is for such as these whom He loves

that we conduct the mission of Orphan Grain Train.

Thank you for being partners with us.

Sugar Festival Parade

     Our thanks to Richard Parsell of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Caro, who provided his vintage 1928 Model-A Ford as the way to display our branch name in the June 15 Sugar Festival Parade held annually in our town of Sebewaing, Michigan.  (We have a major sugar beet factory here.)

     Our community neighbors are increasingly aware of our Orphan Grain Train work.  Not only are more contributing, but we are seeing an up-tick of those needing goods--especially medical devises--coming to ask for assistance.

Items Beyond Our Need

      While inquiring about our list of accepted goods, someone suggested it would be helpful to know the items which are not needed at OGT and are not among goods we receive.

     Much as we are deeply appreciative of material donations brought to us, the following are items not classified as "humanitarian" and thus are not among materials we accept.  

          Anything with an expiration date
          Appliances or kitchenware
          Computers, printers
          Decorative items
          Draperies
          Fabric under 1 yard
          Food
          Furniture – household
          Games needing English language skills
          Holiday decorations
          Household items
          Perfume and make up
          Pillows
          Pharmaceuticals
          Toys with batteries
          Undergarments unless new
          Vacuum cleaners

    Thank you for thinking of Orphan Grain Train–Michigan and your generous offer. We always are reluctant to decline any offer because we know people give from their hearts.  However, the goods listed above are beyond our ordinary limitations which are restricted to what are basic “humanitarian“ goods (clothing, bedding, medical and orthopedic devices such as walkers and wheelchairs, etc.)  Some basic sports equipment and bicycles are considered humanitarian, but many other things are not. 
                       The items listed here must be respectfully declined. 

FFA Gives from Their Surplus

     We may still be quite a distance from launching a food program at Orphan Grain Train--Michigan.  We certainly have the hope of one day having facility space to carry out a program of packaging "mercy meals" for those severely malnourished.  

     Nevertheless, we did received our first donation of completed meals from the Harbor Beech Future Farmers of America.

    

Our Fresh Face

      Every building needs maintenance and upkeep, including our Orphan Grain Train Center. The full length windows which had been original with the building had been separating from their mountings allowing dramatic heat loss.  That issue has been resolved with a completely fresh appearance at the entrance of the Orphan Grain Train--Michigan Center. 

May 21 Flint Delivery

    Another large cargo of completed boxes ready for shipment was received May 21 from our receiving location in Flint..
    With the generous loan of a Franklin Avenue Mission van with trailer, our volunteers at St. Mark Lutheran, Flint made the delivery.
    Martha Kellaway (right) is coordinator of our receiving and boxing location.  She and a team of other volunteeers echo the work done in Sebewaing.  Remember that goods may be donated there (5073 Daly Blvd.) any day during normal church office hours.