Each year we collect and distribute “Bags of Christmas Cheer” for Seafarers who will be at sea at on Christmas Day.
Following is our advertisement for the 2015 appeal:
Christmas Appeal 2015.
Each Christmas Day, we try to provide a bag of goodies to Seafarers who are away from home at Christmas and visiting the Seafarers Centre in Brisbane.
This year, we would like sufficient stock to pack 300 Christmas Bags.
Some examples of suitable donations include:
Personal: toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, deodorant, comb, handkerchiefs, razors, after shave
Souvenirs : any sort of souvenir – fridge magnets, set of coasters, caps, small soft koala/kangaroo etc, key rings,
Small gifts: chocolate bars, small tins spaghetti/baked beans in multi-packs we split with a tin in each bag, pack of cheese and biscuits, small pack sweet biscuits, pocket note book and pen sets, pocket 2016 diary, small Christmas decorations they can place on desk or hang in cabin, bag of lollies, basic wallet/credit card holder, small alarm clock and battery
Christmas Bags: we have a few home made Christmas bags this year from parishioners at St Andrews Lutwyche which is fantastic and can go on being used by the seafarers for toiletry bag or similar. Perhaps you could make simple draw string bags about the size of an A4 page??
In past years, the above have all been provided or purchased by the Mission . We always add a knitted beanie from our stock.
Pocket size New Testaments would be great
A Christmas card from you or your family with a message that the seafarers and their families are being thought of at Christmas would be a terrific personal touch and emphasise that the bags are an act of giving Christian love to each seafarer.
