Let’s knit a happy holiday for mariners!
Donors have until December 15 to bring holiday cheer.
Mariners work tirelessly during the winter months to deliver the very items that make our holiday celebrations possible. Their labors bring 90% of all goods that are imported to the United States—that’s a lot of merry Christmases, happy Hanukahs, joyful Kwanzas, and other enjoyable celebrations.
For 110 years, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) has collected knitted scarves and hats for the thousands of men and women working on the world’s oceans and rivers. In addition to its traditional collection of handknitted items for mariners working during the winter holidays, this year SCI asked volunteers to contribute a little more.
In the presents given to mariners, containing a handknitted scarf and hat, SCI wants to fill the box with other useful items to the mariner. These items include
· Unscented, Hypoallergenic Hand Lotion (2-4oz bottles),
· Unscented, Colorless Lip Balm,
· Sealed Packages of Holiday Sweets,
· Books or Activities like Sudoku, word searches & playing cards,
· Microwave Popcorn, and
· Sugarless Chewing Gum.
These are items that you and I can likely pick up at the local supermarket; but mariners, working long stretches away from shore and their community, find it difficult to obtain these common, practical things. For complete information, including a downloadable brochure on the Gift Drive, go to http://www.seamenschurch.org/726.asp.
Originally, we had set the deadline for receipt of knitted garments and these gift items in October. That deadline has been extended, however. We need more time to collect these contributions. So, if you’re just now hearing about this, we need your help. If you thought that you missed your chance to donate, you haven’t. If you’re still looking for a volunteer project for your group, organization, or knitting circle this season, here it is. SCI will be receiving items for the 2008 Gift Drive until December 15, 2008.
Send these items to our headquarters in New York for inclusion in the holiday gift packages for mariners. For more information, including patterns and our latest newsletter, go to http://www.seamenschurch.org/484.asp. Mariners around the world will be grateful beneficiaries of your time and good will.
