The Maritime Bethel at the Port of Savannah will continue its annual tradition of providing Christmas gifts for hundreds of seafarers who are away from home and their families at Christmas. The Christmas-at-Sea wrapping party for volunteers will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Garden City United Methodist Church, 62 Varnedoe Ave.
The Maritime Bethel is looking for volunteers to help assemble and wrap these gifts for the seafarers to help share the joy of the holidays. Volunteers will be treated to a catered meal before the wrapping gets under way.
Bethel at the Port of Savannah has continued this tradition since it began.
"This Christmas -at-Sea tradition is something I look forward to every year. Being able to bring Christmas joy to the seafarers with this program is truly a gift within itself," Chaplain Andy Krey said. "We are always delighted with the turnout of volunteers from the community at this wrapping party and we are grateful to have their support to make this program possible." "We work with such nonprofits as the Economic Opportunity Authority as well as the Chatham County Sheriff's office and churches to help as many families as we can reach, we are blessed to be working at a busy, growing port and want to share those blessings," said Tommy Stokes III, Local 1414 President at a recent Thanksgiving Gala. "We've already kicked off our annual event with employees signing up to provide specific gifts," said Emily Goldman, Manager of port relations.