March 2020
Dear Friend of OGT MAB,
I feel spoiled by this mild winter; we’ve literally had no snow. Driving to the warehouse has been easy. The good weather outside has allowed us to ‘pack up a storm’ inside. Thanks to an infusion of KAH meals (see below) we already have close to 1250 boxes ready for shipment. We need 1800 to fill a 40ft container – we could use your help!
KAH Meals Donated – Grace Chapel in Skaneateles, NY (Finger Lakes region), has an awesome congregation. On Sunday morning, February 2nd, over 350 people packed meals during their two worship services. They filled 325 KAH boxes with 70,200 meals in just three hours. A jumbo screen displayed a running total while their pastor announced how many people the meals would feed. Praise God for their energy, enthusiasm, and generosity. Thanks to Rob Hall’s truck-driving skills, all the meals were delivered promptly to the warehouse.
Ukraine Shipment Arrives – Charitable Foundation Mariam sent word that our December shipment arrived safely February 7th. They’ve asked for prayers to help them distribute items to those most in need. We look forward to more news from our Ukrainian friends when the people have received blessings of food, clothing, shoes, and medical equipment.
NJ Churches Join our Mission – Fourteen women of the LWML New Jersey District gathered at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake for an Orphan Grain Train orientation and ‘sew-in’ on Saturday, February 15th. MAB volunteer Rich Gruenhagen reported over 40 pillowcase dresses and shorts were made during his presentation about OGT and our branch. The women were enthused to keep sewing and will contact Rich when they are ready to send their work. ‘Thank You’ NJ ladies, and welcome to OGT!
Speaking of Sewing… repairing donated clothing is an ongoing project at the warehouse. If you are handy at handiwork your skills would be appreciated; our mending needs have become a bit overwhelming for our one-and-only volunteer seamstress. The work can be done on site or in your home.
Unsung Hero – I frequently send out reminder pleas about the need for apple boxes. Volunteer Mike Pralle quietly took up the cause, regularly collecting and bringing boxes to the warehouse. Since moving into our Jennersville location, Mike’s been steadily adding grocery stores to his pick-up route. Today he has eight ‘clients’ who keep him busy, often necessitating more than one run per week to deliver them all. Awesome.
March Reminders –
Ash Wednesday began the season of Lent this week. May the next forty days be a time of reflection and repentance, rich with the Lord’s blessings, as we prepare our hearts and minds for His sacrifice and ultimate victory!
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
See you at the warehouse!
Carla
Dear Friend of OGT MAB,
I feel spoiled by this mild winter; we’ve literally had no snow. Driving to the warehouse has been easy. The good weather outside has allowed us to ‘pack up a storm’ inside. Thanks to an infusion of KAH meals (see below) we already have close to 1250 boxes ready for shipment. We need 1800 to fill a 40ft container – we could use your help!
KAH Meals Donated – Grace Chapel in Skaneateles, NY (Finger Lakes region), has an awesome congregation. On Sunday morning, February 2nd, over 350 people packed meals during their two worship services. They filled 325 KAH boxes with 70,200 meals in just three hours. A jumbo screen displayed a running total while their pastor announced how many people the meals would feed. Praise God for their energy, enthusiasm, and generosity. Thanks to Rob Hall’s truck-driving skills, all the meals were delivered promptly to the warehouse.
Ukraine Shipment Arrives – Charitable Foundation Mariam sent word that our December shipment arrived safely February 7th. They’ve asked for prayers to help them distribute items to those most in need. We look forward to more news from our Ukrainian friends when the people have received blessings of food, clothing, shoes, and medical equipment.
NJ Churches Join our Mission – Fourteen women of the LWML New Jersey District gathered at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake for an Orphan Grain Train orientation and ‘sew-in’ on Saturday, February 15th. MAB volunteer Rich Gruenhagen reported over 40 pillowcase dresses and shorts were made during his presentation about OGT and our branch. The women were enthused to keep sewing and will contact Rich when they are ready to send their work. ‘Thank You’ NJ ladies, and welcome to OGT!
Speaking of Sewing… repairing donated clothing is an ongoing project at the warehouse. If you are handy at handiwork your skills would be appreciated; our mending needs have become a bit overwhelming for our one-and-only volunteer seamstress. The work can be done on site or in your home.
Unsung Hero – I frequently send out reminder pleas about the need for apple boxes. Volunteer Mike Pralle quietly took up the cause, regularly collecting and bringing boxes to the warehouse. Since moving into our Jennersville location, Mike’s been steadily adding grocery stores to his pick-up route. Today he has eight ‘clients’ who keep him busy, often necessitating more than one run per week to deliver them all. Awesome.
March Reminders –
- Thrivent members, Choice Dollars expire Tuesday, March 31st. Direct your dollars to OGT MAB today by visiting www.thriventchoice.com or by calling 1-800-847-4836. Remember, your distribution options must be renewed every year.
- Weekend hours are catching on. Come join us on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month – March 14 and 28 – from 9:30-12 noon to help sort donations. Thanks to new volunteers from nearby Kennett Square Rotary Club we were able to pack 43 boxes, as well as sort donations on February 22nd.
- Please continue to donate bicycles. Tom Fuesler just repaired his 100th bike for us to ship (congratulations, Tom!), but more are always needed. We need to keep our ‘Bike Guy’ busy fulfilling his mission to send bicycles with every shipment.
Ash Wednesday began the season of Lent this week. May the next forty days be a time of reflection and repentance, rich with the Lord’s blessings, as we prepare our hearts and minds for His sacrifice and ultimate victory!
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
See you at the warehouse!
Carla