Volunteer With Us
The Missions are always looking for volunteers to assist specifically in the Hamilton, Toronto and Oshawa stations, including professional mariners and people in commercial shipping who would like to give back by volunteering their time.​​ The Mission relies on the dedication of volunteers to bring support to our seafarers across MTS centres worldwide.
To volunteer, please email Rev. ​Judith Altree,
HOST
Nature of the Position
This position offers practical, emotional and spiritual support to Seafarers.
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Outline of Responsibilities
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Host and welcome seafarers to our Seafarers’ Centre
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Offer telephone and internet facilities
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Respond to emergency calls for assistance
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Offer practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers
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As the face of the Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario, the host is responsible for making the drop-in centre feel like a “home away from home” for seafarers.
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Make coffee and cookies available, manage the tuck counter, assist seafarers find
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resources such as churches, stores, theatre, etc.
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Engage in conversation with and be a friendly ear to people far from home and family
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Journal visits
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Provide practical support to crews
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Attend volunteer meetings and training events as required
SHIP VISITOR
Nature of the Position
This position offers practical, emotional and spiritual support to Seafarers.
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Outline of Responsibilities
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Welcome seafarers to the Port of Hamilton
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Respond to emergency calls for assistance
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Offer practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers
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Engage in conversation with and be a friendly ear to people far from home and family
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Journal visits
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Bring a “presence and welcome” to ship-bound seafarers
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Provide practical support to crews
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Requires CSA rated safety boots/shoes, to be provided by volunteer
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Requires proper personal protective wear, to be provided by MTSSO
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Attend volunteer meetings and training events as required
DRIVER
Nature of the Position:
This position offers practical, emotional and spiritual support to Seafarers.
Outline of Responsibilities
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Welcome seafarers to the Port of Hamilton
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Drive the seven passenger “Mission to Seafarers” van as required
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Respond to emergency calls for assistance
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Pick up and return seafarers from their ship to
drop-in centre or to shopping and tourist sites with
in a ten-mile radius of the port. -
Assist with special events
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Attend volunteer meetings and training events
as required
Documents
"As a volunteer, my role is to provide as much comfort and assistance as I can to our visiting seafarers, and to provide a "soft place" for them to land when they come ashore.
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With shore leave forbidden, all I can do for the crews is their shopping. It gives me great satisfaction when I am able to fulfil all their orders but it's very disappointing when I can't find everything they ask for.
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What is most important to me is to make sure that our visiting seafarers know that they are recognized for what they do and that we are sincerely concerned for their welfare, especially in such challenging times."
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- Jill Wyllie, Oshawa, Ontario
Calling All Knitters and Crocheters!
Throughout the year, but especially at Christmas time, we provide hundreds of handmade hats and scarves and we couldn’t do it without you!
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Wool and acrylic, knitted and crocheted -- we gratefully take them all.
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Hats can be brought or mailed to:
651 Burlington St. E. Hamilton, ON, L8L 4J5.
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Basic patterns can be downloaded from missiontoseafarers.org.
Christmas Ditty Bags
The Mission to Seafarers, Southern Ontario (the ports of Oshawa, Toronto, & Hamilton) provides a "Christmas Box" to every seafarer who comes into port from mid-November until the end of December when the last ships leave the lake. To do this we need help.
Be an angel & help us collect the following items:
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Wrapped shoe boxes - tops separate from the bottoms
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Mens & women's socks
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Toothpaste & toothbrushes (regular size)
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Facecloths & small (not mini) bars of soap
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Disposable razors (mens & women's)
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Travel sizes of aftershave, body lotion, mens & women's deodorant
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Coffee mugs
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"Dollar store" sewing kits
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Knitted caps - Dollar store specials or homemade
We hope to offer 400+ seafarers Christmas Boxes, a small gesture that always receives huge thanks.
With your help, we can brighten the lives the men & women who work hard to bring us everything from the sugar for our coffee to the cars we drive. On behalf of the Seafarers who annually pass through our ports in Southern Ontario, thank you for your support.