Breaking Isolation with Connection: The Mission to Seafarers Seeks Volunteers for a Ministry of Hospitality  

Each year, over 500 ships arrive at the Port of Hamilton to drop off and reload raw goods such as corn, grain, phosphate, and steel products. Every ship is crewed by 15 to 25 seafarers who often work long hours and go without setting foot on shore for months. This can be isolating. Dan Phannenhour, Chaplain of Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario, fills his backpack with bags of chocolate, brochures, and other treats, and with a smile on his face, visits the ships that come to port. He greets the crew members, gives them a bag of chocolate to share, and engages them in conversation about work, life, and any issues at hand.  

While on board, Phannenhour encounters people like John, a young seafarer from the Philippines who had been at sea for close to nine months without seeing his family. The strain of isolation had taken a toll on his mental health. Phannenhour offered John emotional support by providing a listening ear and a care package to encourage him. But most importantly, John was given access to Wi-Fi to video call his family for the first time in weeks. John’s smile was priceless after seeing his family, and he thanked Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario for their care and support, which gave him renewed strength to continue his journey. 

The Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario is a ministry of hospitality where no seafarer is left behind—a place that aims to show seafarers that they are not alone and are deeply valued. We are called to serve all seafarers regardless of their ethnicity, culture, faith, or gender. Since 1961, seafarers arriving in the port of Hamilton, Toronto, Oshawa, and Port Colborne have been unconditionally welcomed into our mission stations, and we are proud to be a part of this large, global, multi-faith, non-denominational ministry. 

But as a charity, we heavily rely on volunteers and staff like Phannenhour to serve the seafarers who arrive in our ports. Gaining new volunteers is a constant challenge. That is why we need your help. We need a large network of volunteers across Southern Ontario to host, drive, and visit with seafarers. Anyone with a heart to serve is eligible to apply to become a volunteer, even teenagers. 

Not able to volunteer? There are three other practical ways to support the Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario: 

1. In-Kind donations: Knit hats and scarves, gently used clothing and hygiene products such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, shaving cream, socks, etc.
2. Financial donations: a monthly or one-time financial gift will help us to continue to serve seafarers. 
3. Prayer: commit to praying for the ministry and for seafarers who travel the globe, ensuring that products and goods arrive in port safely. 

To learn more about Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario, check out our website at mtsso.org or email us at getinvolved@mtsso.org. We’re excited to hear from you!