A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SEATTLE MISSION TO SEAFARERS
The Mission to Seafarers is a worldwide organization founded in England in 1856 to incorporate work by Anglican clergy among seafarers on ships in the British merchant fleet. With the expansion of the British Empire, the organization spread to ports throughout the world providing aid, comfort and advocacy to sailors away from their homes for extended periods.
The first such organization in Puget Sound was provided in 1906 through Christ Church, Tacoma, followed by Trinity Church, Seattle from 1911-1920. The current organization had its start in 1971 as the Puget Sound Maritime Ministry, sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, utilizing space provided by the Port of Seattle. In 2001, the Mission entered into a long-term lease with the Port of Seattle for its present location on West Marginal Way on the Duwamish River across from Harbor Island. The Seattle Seafarers’ Center is operated for the benefit of all maritime workers who enter this port and wish to come ashore for communications with home, shopping and relaxation away from the noise and tight confines of their ship.
Supporting Seafarers and the Seafarers Center in Seattle
What are ‘Ditty Bags?’
Ditty bags are hand made cloth bags filled with essential toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant that the Seattle Mission to Seafarer’s program gives out to seafarers visiting the Port of Seattle over the holiday season.
Each year, volunteers make ditty bags, knit hats, donate items, make cash donations to sponsor a ditty bag, and help us assemble the ditty bags. It’s quite a process, and the assembling of the ditty bags brings in over 100 volunteers each year.
How can I help?
MAKE a Ditty Bag – here’s the pattern: http://mts-seattle.org/ditty-bags/ditty-bag-pattern/
KNIT a hat – Each ditty bag contains a hand-made knit hat. Here’s a pattern you can use, or use one of your own: http://mts-seattle.org/ditty-bags/watchcap-patterns/
DONATE items for the ditty bags. Items on the list are full sized items – not travel sized items.
- Ditty Bags
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- Toothpaste
- Knit or Fleece Hats
- Small New Testaments or Gospels of John
- Playing cards
- Disposable Razors
- Toothbrushes
- Bar Soap
Other items that we will put into ditty bags if we have them include pens, pencils, notepads, scarves, work gloves, warm socks, chapstick and shaving cream, hard candy, tic-tacs and gum.
BECOME A SPONSOR
Monetary donations can be made online HERE
You can donate online, or send your check to The Mission to Seafarers, 3568 W. Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106
For more information about The Mission to Seafarers Seattle go to Mission to Seafarers Center website HERE
