Even though the world seems to be returning to “normal” for the 2021 holiday season, this isn’t the case for our seafarers, who are working tirelessly to ensure coveted gifts are in stock and on shelf. Through Falvey Cargo’s partnership with The Mission to Seafarers, we’ve learned the many ways we can provide support to our seafarers to thank them for their hard work.
Included here is an excerpt from a Christmas letter written by The Revd Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers.
Many of you reading this letter may indeed feel that the worst is behind you. The restrictions which changed life so dramatically might be almost forgotten. However, the empty shelves in many of our shops, and endless “supply chain difficulty” narratives in the news, tell a vital story.
The impact of the temporary blockage of the Suez Canal by the Ever Given (to which our teams in Egypt, and subsequently elsewhere, were able to make supportive visits) underlines that story. We are all utterly dependent on our heroic seafarers, for many of whom the challenges and difficulties brought about by the pandemic remain acute and stressful.
As we approach a second COVID-Christmas, crew and their families will be facing it with some trepidation. This year, like last, promises to be particularly hard, with many depending on one of our vital Christmas ministries - delivery of personal shopping at the gangway by our staff and volunteers. For many of us it will be business as usual on 25 December, (although we may experience shortages because of the haulage crisis). Imagine not being able to do your own Christmas shopping?
We are thankful they have had a bit more visibility during these last months. Long, long may that continue. Never has there been a more important time to reach out to them in thankfulness and kindness. Please help us do that this Christmas and into 2022. For many, whatever the weather, it is still a bleak midwinter and, to misquote my favourite carol, we can all “do our part”.
We want our seafarers to continue to receive this high-level assistance as and when they need it, so please donate whatever you can this Christmas, helping us make one more Christmas just a little more bearable for seafarers.
To read the full letter, and find ways you can donate today, click here.