A local forklift manufacturer is helping a Christian charity carry the load.
Toyota Material Handling has donated an electric-powered forklift to the Indiana branch of Orphan Grain Train, a network of Christian volunteers who ship donated food, clothing and other items to people in need around the world.
Three volunteers from Orphan Grain Train, as well as several Toyota officials, were on hand for a ceremony Friday at Toyota Material Handling’s facility at 5559 Inwood Drive for the presentation.
Gene Ernst, manager of the Indiana branch of Orphan Grain Train, 209 Jackson St. in Jonesville, said the organization is “just totally blessed” to have received the donated forklift.
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“This is just going to be such a blessing to have on the site and not have to worry about parts and pieces and things falling apart,” he said.
The group received a 7-Series pneumatic tired electric forklift, which weighs around 10,000 pounds and has a lifting capacity of 5,000 pounds, said Thomas Lego, Toyota brand ambassador.
The forklift given to the group is “pretty much brand new” and was previously used for training and teaching purposes at Toyota, Lego said.
The battery can last for an entire eight-hour shift before needing to be recharged, depending on the weight being lifted and the speed at which the forklift is driven, said Rick Losacker, OEM manager at EnerSys, a U.S.-based battery manufacturer that provided the battery and charger for the forklift.
The group estimates that they will use the forklift about 12 hours per week, which means the group likely will only have to charge the forklift every two to three days, Losacker said.
Ernst and his fellow volunteers currently use a 11-year-old forklift donated by Toyota Material Handling.
“Everything is locally funded, so we live by donations,” Ernst said. “That’s the biggest thing, and that’s why it’s such a joy to have something like this, because we couldn’t lay out that kind of money without having a big fundraiser.”
Ernst’s face was beaming at Toyota’s facility as he turned on the forklift, with the help of Toyota officials, and tested out some of the features, including moving the lift up and down and inclining and reclining the lift.
Ernst said the group of volunteers will use the forklift to help load pallets of donated items into shipping bins, which will be sent all over the world. The majority of the group’s shipments go to the Appalachia region of the United States, or overseas, Ernst said. Last year, the group sent two loads of donated items to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Jeff Rufener, Toyota Material Handling president, attended the presentation, saying supporting Orphan Grain Train’s mission was part of the company’s continuing efforts to contribute to the community.
“We’re happy to support groups like this, in particular, because they’re very active locally and they also are active nationally and even internationally,” Rufener said. “We like being able to support organizations that have that kind of scope.”
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Orphan Grain Train is a network of Christian volunteers based in Nebraska who ship donated food, clothing and other items to people in 69 countries, according to the group’s website.
The Indiana chapter of Orphan Grain Train is located at 209 Jackson St. in Jonesville.
Visit ogt.org/branches/indiana/ for more information.
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For more on Toyota forklifts, visit:
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