April 2019
Dear Friend of OGT,
The calendar says, “It’s Spring!” The sun shining brightly outside says, “It’s Spring!” And the temperature says …? Well, since there’s a fire currently burning in my fireplace, let’s just say warmer days are in the forecast. At the warehouse our April forecast is full of promise, beginning with good news about volunteering.
Volunteers are Precious! – “God…will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10. Without the hands and feet of our volunteers we could never fulfill our mission “in bringing Christ’s name and character to needy people…” This spring MAB is having a marked increase in volunteerism, now welcoming more than a dozen people each week averaging over 280 hours per month! As America honors all volunteers in April, we send a special “Thank you!” to ours. If you have not spent time with us before we encourage you to come to the warehouse Wednesday’s from 10am to 2:30pm.
Flood Relief – Many of you have heard about destructive flooding in Nebraska and continued need for Hurricane Florence relief aid in the Carolinas. Our board recently voted to send a pallet of KAH meals and $1,000 worth of cleaning supplies to Word of Faith Ministries in Kenansville, NC. We also agreed to send a gift of $3,000 to OGT, Inc, specifically for their Nebraska Flood Relief fund. Please continue to pray for the thousands of victims affected by flood waters.
And the Next Shipment Goes to…With 775 boxes of packed material now in the warehouse including four pallets of KAH meals (more on the way!), and at least 40 refurbished bikes – thank you, Mr. Tom Fuesler! – we are thinking ahead to our next shipment; hopefully, Haiti in June. We’ll keep you posted on the details.
Getting the Word Out – Our new warehouse location, new donations processing system, and new volunteers are giving us a renewed zeal for our work. We are planning another KAH meal-packing event for May 18th. This time we’re targeting 30,000 meals, not just 10,000. In the days to come, we are updating all our supporting churches’ websites so site visitors will know about our mission. Finally, as we put the finishing touches on our warehouse work flow, we are looking ahead to the day we can welcome guests to a West Grove Open House Event – watch for details in upcoming newsletters.
Boxes and Bags – Our produce manager at Giant informed me that apple sales fall off after Memorial Day when other produce takes center stage. This gives us about eight more weeks to collect boxes before the supply thins out. Can you help?
Keep those bags of donations coming! We’re processing so much more now that a steady supply is needed. Consider having a clothing drive at your church, workplace, or in your neighborhood. We have both business cards and brochures to help you explain the Orphan Grain Train mission; email me if you would like some. For questions about what we accept, or if you need help transporting boxes or donations, please call Rob Hall at (484) 459-9217, or Roger Hazzard at (302) 883-1760.
My next communication will be the Spring/Summer Newsletter in May. Between then and now we celebrate Easter! With all the new things happening at the warehouse I found the perfect scripture message to send you Easter blessings:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish spoil, or fade.” 1Peter 1:3
See you at the warehouse!
Carla