St. Paul Lutheran raises donations for Ukrainian refugees

IRON RIVER — Members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Iron River, along with Hope Lutheran in Land O Lakes, Our Savior Lutheran in Eagle River and Our Savior’s of Bundy recently collected items needed for the refugees of Ukraine.  
According to a letter from Orphan Grain Train, an outreach organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, items most requested included personal toiletry items such as soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste as well as thermal underwear, men’s clothing and boots, quilts, blankets, diapers, new socks and new underwear.  
Pastor Chuck Sheffler of St. Paul Lutheran will be transporting the donations to Orphan Grain Train’s warehouse in Westfield, Wisconsin. The organization hopes to send an air cargo load on April 12.  
Darlene Behling, a longtime member of Hope Lutheran in Land O Lakes, donated 10 handmade child-sized quilts and three full-size quilts to the drive.  
“I work on them all winter and decided to donate them to the refugees,” said Behling.
Several pairs of boots as well as winter coats, hats, gloves, mittens , towels and other needed items were also collected.  
Orphan Grain Train Branch Manager Cathy Robinson said in a letter sent to the churches, “The expense of air cargo and medical supplies is going to be high, but these poor people need our help now. 
The surrounding countries where refugees are flooding into are already starting to run low on needed supplies.  Our greatest need will be monetary.”  
Financial donations are still needed and can be sent to Orphan Grain Train treasurer Marilyn Muller at N1459 Castle Drive in Medford, Wisconsin. The zip code is 54451. Orphan Grain Train is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.