Officials designate April as grange month
WAYNESBURG – Greene County commissioners Thursday proclaimed April as Grange Month, recognizing the organization as a beacon of citizenship and civility since its founding in 1867.
The grange values social interaction, education, leadership, growth and community service with hometown roots.
Historically, it fought for rural America to have access to electricity, mail delivery and now, in the 21st century, Internet access.
“We have a long history of service to the community,” Dinsmore said. Greene County presently has three granges – Carmichaels, East Franklin and Harveys Aleppo.
Grangers volunteer at blood drives, food pantries, summer nutrition programs for kids, as members of fire departments, nonprofit organizations, school boards and as mentors and Sunday school teachers.
Grangers visit nursing homes, raise funds for scholarships and give free access to grange halls for church services, trainings, food distributions, disaster shelters and lectures.
For more information about the National Grange or the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, including its colorful history, go online to nationalgrange.org.