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Orphan Grain Train Announces Assistance to the Gbarnga Mission in Liberia

On April 20, Volunteers for the Orphan Grain Train’s (OGT) New England Branch, located at 33 South Main St. in Terryville, Ct. 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 10 years ago, the school now has 230 students through the 8th grade and has added a full medical clinic.

On the shipment were 55 boxes of Harvest Pack Meals, a dehydrated, rice based and fortified food in sealed plastic bags that can last up to 3 years requiring only water for preparation. The school has installed its own wells so clean water is not a problem. This is enough of a supply to make almost 12,000 meals and can be used to supplement the schools own gardening program when droughts or other weather events occur. In addition, two Treadle sewing machines were sent which are used because there is not a reliable power supply. OGT has supplied 8 treadle sewing machines in the past to help with their learn-to-sew program and 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 9 folding school desks as to help with expansion.

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 4 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.

The photo was taken from a past shipment of Treadle machines that OGT New England delivered. Jon Rossman, Executive director of Gbarnga Mission in Liberia,

is on the left.