Congregations around the state have been sewing quilts, collecting soap, assembling school kits, personal care kits, fabric kits, baby care kits, and receiving freewill offerings for the 2015 Lutheran World Relief Boxcar Loading. Fifteen locations, including the Michigan District Office in Ann Arbor, will serve as collection sites throughout the weeks leading up to the October 21, 2015 boxcar loading at the Detroit and Grand Rapids train yards.
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is a ministry of U.S. Lutherans serving communities living in poverty overseas. Together with local partners, LWR provides lasting solutions to poverty, injustice, and human suffering around the world. In 2014, $12.4 million dollars, 408,425 quilts, 88,705 school kits, 122,550 personal care kits, 16,564 fabric kits, 64,810 baby care kits, and 41,320 lbs. of soap were distributed to more than 571,480 people in 20 countries.
This video shows LWR in action in the Philippines:
All Michigan District congregations are encouraged to participate in this year’s ingathering. A detailed list of items to be collected, collection sites, donation form, and maps to the train yard can be found at michigandistrict.org/events/lwr-boxcar-loading-2015. Promotion materials for your congregation can be ordered through LWR directly at lwr.org or by calling 800.597.5972. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Patricia Schuknecht, Michigan District LWR Boxcar Coordinator, at info@hotshepherd.org or 517.552.7218.
