Orphan Grain Train (OGT) New England Branch loaded a shipping container destined for Moldova in Eastern Europe on Friday, April 1. The container arrived at the Orphan Grain Train warehouse at 33 South Main St. in Terryville at around 2 p.m. and was loaded with medical supplies by a group of able volunteers. It left for shipment around 4:30 p.m., bound for the Port of Newark for fumigation and transport.
oldova is one of the poorest nations in Eastern Europe. Coordination and support of the effort were provided by OGT’s central office in Norfolk, Nebraska.
In the container were 30 hospital beds, mattresses and siderails, 6 IV stands, 23 wheelchairs, commodes, crutches, canes, and 153 walkers. Also included were over 700 boxes of clothing, hygiene kits, blankets and quilts. All of the items had been donated to the OGT Branch by individuals or institutions and were all inspected to make sure they are in working order.
This shipment follows close on the heels of a January shipment to Nicaragua and a February shipment to Lithuania of similar items and also other items like mercy-meals and sewing machines and supplies.
Orphan Grain Train is a 503(C) organization affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and is sponsored by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Terryville with assistance from Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Bristol.
The warehouse is in the old Eagle Lock building owned by Bill Allread, who has made space available for the warehouse to operate.
OGT is a largely volunteer organization with 23 Branches throughout the United States, the New England Branch being one of the newest started in 2014.
This is the eighth shipment to date, which in addition to Moldova, Lithuania and Nicaragua, include Ghana, the Ukraine, Nepal, Bridgeport Rescue Mission and Liberia.
In addition to these large shipments, the warehouse is also a resource for the area visiting nurse and hospice care organizations through a local lending program wherein medical supplies are given to those in need and then returned for reuse when the supplies are no longer needed.
For more information, visit the OGT website or call Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 860-582-0723.
