Crosby headquartered ecumenical charity Liverpool Seafarers Centre (LSC) is appealing for Christmas gifts to distribute to seafarers passing through the port on the run up to New Year.
LSC CEO John Wilson said the festive period is an especially challenging time for seafarers being far from home and loved ones, working long hours in cold winter sea conditions.
“We have been handing out gifts and on Christmas Eve held a Mass for visiting seafarers, many of whom are religious and value greatly the opportunity to worship and receive communion at Christmas,” he said. “This is a special time for the seafarers centre and we are grateful to all our staff and volunteers for extending a big warm Merseyside welcome to the many seafarers who pass through the port at this time delivering 95 per cent of all goods coming into the UK including many Christmas gifts on our high streets.”
Mr Wilson said LSC, whose roots date back to the 19th Century, welcomed donations of gifts through-out the Christmas period including unwanted Christmas gifts.
“We are aiming to collect more than 500 gifts and appeal for items such as woolly hats, gloves, confectionary, toiletries, puzzles and board games,” he said. “Warm clothing is especially welcome.They can be dropped into our centre in Crosby over the Christmas period and beyond.”
LSC has received a number of messages of thanks from seafarers passing through Liverpool after handing out Christmas gifts.
Captain Igor Razbitnov Master of the MV REDHEAD wrote to the centre and said:
“Let me on behalf of my crew and myself express our gratitude for a warm reception, kind attention and care and friendly relation to all of us, while we being visiting your seafarers mission and contacting with you and your staff. We are really felt like ourselves at home , and it was a great pleasure to talk with your staff, who were very friendly and helpful during all time. We think it was a really Christmas present for us, which will be remained in our souls forever. Thanks a lot for your efforts to make seafarers life easier and better, while we are at sea. On behalf of my crew and myself I wish to congratulate all of you with a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Captain Su BenJun Master of M.V Asia Pearl VI wrote:
“I am writing to show my thanks and sincere appreciation for you and your colleagues great help for the crew! When our ship arrived in Liverpool, your centre came aboard our ship and with many useful gifts for the crew. The seafarers centre also provided many facilities including phone SIM cards and money change help for our crew member.
Then your friendly team took crew members to shopping where they wanted to go and also took them back to the ship. That is the greatest help of crew and solved the biggest worry about of how to go outside the harbour and how to come back to the ship! That is the greatest release for a seaman working under pressure after long voyage. You and your colleagues very kindness and warmthly give
the crew a feeling of home! Through you and your colleague great help the crew received the feeling of the great, beautiful loveliness of Liverpool!
Merry Christmas and thanks again for your great and lovely help!
Liverpool Seafarers Centre was recently crowned the world’s best seafarer centre at an awards ceremony held as part of London International Shipping Week in the autumn. LSC was singled out by the International Seafarer Welfare Awards (ISWAN) due to the exceptional care it offers visiting seafarers and their families. LSC finished top ahead of seafarer centres in America in Houston and Philadelphia as well as Sydney Australia and Tauranga, New Zealand.
For further information on LSC’s work and to donate gifts from Christmas Tel: 0300 800 8085 visit: 20 Crosby Road South, Liverpool, Merseyside L22 1RQ Email: admin@Liverpoolseafarerscentre.org Website: www.liverpoolseafarerscentre.org
