Reasons to Join the Orphan Grain Train

By,   Jackie Mae

The Orphan Grain Train. No—not the Gravy Train, the Orphan Grain Train. Actually no train at all, but an exciting new way to help others, so jump on board and ride along. The Orphan Grain Train welcomes young and old, you need only want to help your neighbors.

The Orphan Grain Train was the brainchild of Rev. Ray S. Wilke who envisioned a train picking up supplies to deliver to orphans in need. Eventually, through the generosity of Andrews Van Lines, the Orphan Grain Train was born.

The Orphan Grain Train has helped thousands of individuals in need by providing medical supplies such as shunts, walkers, canes, crutches, and wheelchairs, to hospital beds, examination tables, heart monitors, and everything in between. They deliver much needed four-season clothing, linens, hygienic items, and school supplies. Their efforts have lent a helping hand in building schools for school-age children and real life skills for working mothers who wish to support their families.

The Orphan Grain Train rushed to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy and more recently delivered over 450 warm, much needed, winter coats to a local church right here in Baltimore, Maryland.

“Our neighbor’s needs become the Orphan Grain Train’s needs,” said one volunteer. In addition to helping our neighbors in the U.S., the Orphan Grain Train has shipped previous 40-foot containers to places like Haiti, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Ghana, Liberia, and Cameroon.

This past week the Orphan Grain Train shipped a container full to Kyrgyzstan. At the Galilee Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Maryland dozens of people joined forces, working together to get the container loaded and ready to be shipped.

Boy Scout Troop #000 with six boys in attendance was front and center to help lift boxes from two 40 foot containers to the waiting shipping container. Miss Cassandra Fields from Girl Scout Troop #1200 was there. Four teenagers from The National Honor Society Wilde Lake in Howard County were there as well.

Along with so many individuals just wanting to help in any way possible; even Mr. Ron, in a walking boot, contributed by taking inventory. They were all working together in a classic fireman water bucket line, passing one box to the other, until all the boxes were loaded properly.

Walking away from a few hours of work, you cannot help but smile. The camaraderie, the lasting relationships forged here, and knowing that you have left your stamp on society leaves you with an immeasurable feeling. Whether you wish to participate hands-on, or simply donate money, you will know your efforts will sincerely help those among us that due to circumstances beyond their control, are unable to provide for their families.

A new project unfolding here in Maryland is the new building site in Millersville, Maryland. A plot of land, generously donated by Mr. Wayne Gerst is the future site of the Maryland Branch’s warehouse where donated items will be stored until another container is filled and ready to be shipped.

There are numerous ways to sponsor this new venture. So far, over $240,000 has been raised but much more is needed to bring the dream of a warehouse to life. Creative License Studios in Millersville is assisting with this project with videos and crowd funding efforts. You can go to http://www.creativelicensestudios.com to learn more.

Contact The Maryland Branch through http://www.ogt.org to learn more ways you can help. You can contact The Maryland Branch directly through the St. Paul Lutheran Church, 31 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, MD by emailing Ron.phipps@MD-orphangraintrain.org (Orphan Grain Train is a 501(c)3 organization).