County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County

Orphan Grain Train Drive Highly Successful

Local Residents’ Kindness to Benefit Ukrainians

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HARRISON – Living Hope Lutheran Church of Farwell recently helped coordinate a donation drive in association with the Orphan Grain Train. A 53-foot semi-trailer was parked at the church for several days, ending on July 18, so that generous, compassionate community members could have the opportunity to bring their unneeded items to share with others who desperately need them – the people suffering loss of property and home due to the Russian invasion/bombing of Ukraine.

The church had requested items of high need, including infant supplies, medical equipment/supplies such as bed and bath linens, disposable gowns/gloves and mobility assistance items; hygiene supplies; school paper/writing supplies, sporting equipment and uniforms; clothing and shoes for all ages; along with necessary sundries such as quilts, comforters, blankets, towels and washcloths.

As hoped, the community arrived with goods in hand and kept volunteers busy packing and stacking items into that huge truck.

On July 19, the truck laden with those many donations was delivered to the Orphan Grain Train warehouse in Sebewaing, Michigan. There, items were to be sorted and repackaged into containers for shipment overseas to Ukraine and other countries which are supporting Ukrainian refugees.

Tom Pirnstill, a church member volunteer who also has been active in promoting the Community of Hope (which provides no-cost clothing and other items for persons in need), was highly pleased with the generous outpouring of goods. He reported that some 8,527 pounds of goods had been donated. Yes, more than four tons of materials to help people in a distant country they will most likely never visit.

As noted in the original item promoting the Farwell event, the Orphan Grain Train is a nonprofit Christian volunteer network that shares personal material resources with needy people in America and third world countries. And it would seem that many folks in Clare County saw the value in that work and stepped up to make a difference for people they will never meet – people in need a third-way round the world.

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