"By the time the Friendship Train reached Chicago, it
had so many boxcars that it had to be split in two. Eighty
cars rolled into the city - and one hundred cars rolled out,
brimming with food.
Flour and sugar,
milk and macaroni,
dried beans and peas,
good for growling bellies."
Before returning to a grandparents' theme, I want to mention this book that concerns community, cooperation, empathy, and an uplifting story of children looking out for others. It dates back to a time following the end of World War II.
The war had ended; the results of the fighting had left farms destroyed, a scarcity of food, and starving children. There was nowhere near enough to eat. In the United States, a man named Drew Pearson wondered how to help; one man could not possibly provide all the food needed. Would people across America help strangers they would never know?
In one of his columns, Mr. Pearson asked that question and was unprepared for the many letters he received in answer. The Friendship Train was a go, starting from California and ending on the east coast before what was gathered along the way could be shipped overseas. Adults were not the only ones who offered to help. Children were desperate to make a difference. They came up with idea after idea to donate, collect, and offer help where it was needed.
Leaving California with twelve boxcars filled, the train was met by children at every stop along the way. The children kept finding ways to fill one train car after another. And still, they helped and celebrated the generosity of all who contributed over the eleven days it took to get to New York City. When all was said and done, more than 500 boxcars were filled. It took four huge cargo ships to make the final leg of the journey.
On the other side of the ocean, after a harsh winter made easier by the food sent, Monsieur Picard wondered how to express gratitude for all that had been done by strangers with big hearts. The children of Europe wanted to be part of the Merci Train being organized; in all, forty-nine boxcars were filled with gifts of thanks to those who had given so selflessly.
"Every single state received a boxcar
of treasures from the Merci Train.
From stranger to stranger.
From friend to friend."
A note from the author is evidence of the careful research done to prepare to write this uplifting story. Boris Kulikov ensures that young readers have a sense of the many who helped, and of those who benefitted from the collective effort of so many. He brings reality to the post-war world, and to the joy that comes from making a difference.
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