A Tradition of Care at the Port of Thunder Bay
As the shipping season nears its close and the days grow shorter, the Mission to Seafarers: Port of Thunder Bay is once again preparing to share Christmas cheer with those who will spend the holidays far from home.
Each year, volunteers at the Mission assemble Christmas Gift Bags for the hundreds of international seafarers whose ships dock in Thunder Bay during the final weeks of the season. Beginning December 1, the Mission hopes to deliver 266 gift bags—enough for 14 ships, with 19 bags per ship.
“These small gifts mean so much to the men and women who come through our port,” says Mission Chaplain, the Rev. Canon Ed Swayze. “They remind our seafarers that they are seen, valued, and supported by the people of this community.”
Donations of new, useful, and thoughtful items are warmly welcomed. Suggested items include:
- Mittens, gloves, toques, and neck warmers
- Chap Stick or lip balm
- Toothpaste and disposable razors
- Chocolate and treats
Donations are needed by November 18 and may be placed in the drop-off box outside the Seafarers’ Centre or delivered by appointment (call 807-344-8241).
To learn more, or to see photos from last year’s gift bag program, visit Christmas Gift Bags | Mission to Seafarers.
“The Mission to Seafarers is a quiet but vital ministry of hospitality,” says Archbishop Anne Germond. “Every gift bag is a message of hope—an Advent sign of light and love reaching across the waters.”