St. Mark’s members have faithfully supported the Orphan Grain Train (OGT) mission which is based on John 14:18 – I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. In 1992 Lester and Delores Rusch traveled on a mission trip to Latvia where they saw a great need. Upon returning they started the Orphan Grain Train packing station here at St. Mark’s. Since then, thousands of hours have been given by volunteers weekly to help change lives forever.
St. Mark’s is now the packing station for northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan from Eau Claire to Door County. We receive donations of clothing, quilts, pillowcase dresses and shorts, sleeping mats, school supplies, hygiene kits, diapers, medical equipment, and mobility aids from many churches in this large area. In addition to the churches, we have area resale shops that deliver or we pick-up clothing that they have not been able to sell. In the summer we receive the extras from many area churches and individual rummage sales.
Volunteers pack on Monday mornings from 8:00-11:30 in the OGT garage here at St. Mark’s. We usually pack 75-100 boxes each morning. A continuous activity is sorting and packing clothing of all sizes and types. All we ask is that the clothing is clean, new or gently used, with no stains, rips, smells, or broken zippers. Men’s, women’s, children’s, and infant’s summer or winter clothes are accepted as well as coats, shoes, hats, gloves, new and used underwear. When we get 800-900 boxes, we call the Wisconsin headquarters for OGT in Westfield, WI to send us a semi so these items can be transported back to them for domestic and international distribution.
There are many people in the world living in desperate conditions with a lack of food, clothing, or water. Many also don’t know Christ. Pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers at the delivery sites get the opportunity to share Christ and His love through your Orphan Grain Train donations.
Thank you for your volunteer efforts, your donations, and especially your continued prayers for the Orphan Grain Train mission.
Wayne Flanagan
To learn more, visit the Orphan Grain Train website.
St. Mark’s Orphan Grain Train Workers