Eleven members from St Andrew’s Church in Burnham-On-Sea and St Mary’s Church in Berrow have delivered dozens of shoboxes full of gifts to the Mission to Seafarers at Portbury Dock.
Around 90 shoeboxes had been filled with gifts donated for seafarers far from home.
They also took bags of hand knitted hats, mufflers and mittens for seafarers from milder climes.
Members of their congregations have been filling the boxes over the last few weeks.
Spokeswoman Liz Roost said: “Many seafarers are away from home across the world for long months at sea, and the boxes bringing Christmas wishes from local people remind seafarers that they are not forgotten.”
In the British Isles much of the food and consumer goods that we depend upon come from across the seas thanks to the work of the seafarers, who have a thankless task in all conditions and weathers.”
“At the Mission Centre seafarers of many faiths and none enjoy a welcome and various leisure facilities, including pool, TV, an Internet terminal, wireless internet and card-only phones, refreshments, plus a shop for essentials. There is also a chapel and a library.”
The Burnham and Berrow group were met by Chaplain Rev Jeremy Hellier who took us on a guided tour of the Avon and Portbury docks, where the ships dock briefly to load/ unload their cargoes.
He and other ship visitors can meet with crew both on board ship and at the centre and distribute the gifts at Christmas time and give their support throughout the year and can deal with crises as they arise.
