Christmas at Sea 2023
Thank you for your interest in supporting the seafarers who come to Baltimore Harbor! Whether you are new to the Baltimore International Seafarers Center or a long- time fan, please know we appreciate all that you can do for our seafarers.
The Christmas holiday is a natural time when people wish to provide gifts to the men (and a few women) who visit Baltimore. Most ships are very well provisioned. As per international agreements, sailors do not lack for the basic day-to-day items, such as toiletries and soaps. Additionally, games, notepads and pens, magazines, and other similar items no longer considered appropriate for the gift bags.
What to give? The Center would like each sailor to get similar items in a one-gallon plastic bag.
• a warm ‘watch cap’ (hand-made or store-bought in bright/dark colors
• a warm scarf (hand-made or store-bought, about 6”x45”, no tassels or fringe. It doesn’t have to match the hat.)
• hand warmers
• a small, flat Baltimore souvenir (postcard, magnet, or stickers)
• Christmas card (signed by as many people as possible)
AND--
• home-made or store-bought cookies! The most requested item (beyond a hat and hand warmers) are ‘consumables’—i.e., snacks! Ships’ galleys offer pretty limited menus. Home-baked items ‘show engagement’—that real human touch. Consider baking (or buying) one–two dozen cookies and putting them in a one-gallon zip-loc bag. Enough ships visit the Port of Baltimore that they won't stay long around the Center!
Delivery. The Center will collect gift bags starting mid-November. Call 410-685-1240 arrange a drop-off time to 1430 Wallace Street, Baltimore.
Merry Christmas!
The Christmas holiday is a natural time when people wish to provide gifts to the men (and a few women) who visit Baltimore. Most ships are very well provisioned. As per international agreements, sailors do not lack for the basic day-to-day items, such as toiletries and soaps. Additionally, games, notepads and pens, magazines, and other similar items no longer considered appropriate for the gift bags.
What to give? The Center would like each sailor to get similar items in a one-gallon plastic bag.
• a warm ‘watch cap’ (hand-made or store-bought in bright/dark colors
• a warm scarf (hand-made or store-bought, about 6”x45”, no tassels or fringe. It doesn’t have to match the hat.)
• hand warmers
• a small, flat Baltimore souvenir (postcard, magnet, or stickers)
• Christmas card (signed by as many people as possible)
AND--
• home-made or store-bought cookies! The most requested item (beyond a hat and hand warmers) are ‘consumables’—i.e., snacks! Ships’ galleys offer pretty limited menus. Home-baked items ‘show engagement’—that real human touch. Consider baking (or buying) one–two dozen cookies and putting them in a one-gallon zip-loc bag. Enough ships visit the Port of Baltimore that they won't stay long around the Center!
Delivery. The Center will collect gift bags starting mid-November. Call 410-685-1240 arrange a drop-off time to 1430 Wallace Street, Baltimore.
Merry Christmas!