News

On May 28, Volunteers for the Orphan Grain Train (OGT) New England Branch, located at 33 South Main St. in Terryville, Connecticut delivered a box truck load of items to a warehouse in Providence RI to go on a shipment to the Gbarnga Lutheran Mission in Liberia. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Providence started this Mission for children in Liberia to provide education, food, hygiene and medical assistance. From constructing a building about ten years ago, the school now has 230 students through the 8th grade and has added a full medical clinic.

On the shipment were 44 boxes of Harvest Pack Meals, a dehydrated, rice based and fortified food in sealed plastic bags that can last up to three years requiring only water for preparation. Each box contains 216 meals. The school has installed its own wells, so clean water is not a problem. This is enough of a supply to make over 9,500 meals and can be used to supplement the schools own gardening program when droughts or other weather events occur. In addition, one treadle sewing machine was sent which they use because there is not a reliable power supply. OGT has supplied treadle sewing machines in the past to help with their learn-to-sew program. This past year saw some 35 graduates who now can sew on their own for their families or sell to make some income. Also included were twelve folding school desks and nine folding chairs to help with expansion. two computer screens were added to help outfit a recent donation of computers to the school.

In the past, OGT has also sent hospital beds, medical supplies, clothing and other school desks. Other shipments have gone to missions in countries on four continents as well as Appalachia and hurricane relief for Puerto Rico, Florida, Kentucky and North Carolina. The Branch also helps those locally in New England, giving medical items that have been donated to individuals in need and thru the visiting nurse and hospice care organizations of the area. The effort is an Outreach Ministry of the Lutheran Church, and OGT is a 501(3)(C) charity affiliated with the church and supported locally by Holy Trinity Lutheran in Terryville and Immanuel Lutheran in Bristol and is open to all who want to help others. For more information, please call Holy Trinity at 860-582-0723 and/or check out the OGT.org website.

Pictured: Jon Rossman, Executive Director of the Gbarnga Mission and Kevin Reade from OGT Mid Atlantic.