By Susan Huppert, NAMMA
Volunteers have been tirelessly working for months in preparation for the grand delivery of Christmas cheer to the Port of Wilmington, Delaware. The culmination of their efforts—knitting hats, gathering gifts, wrapping packages, and organizing deliveries—has finally arrived, as the community comes together to spread joy to seafarers visiting this eastern U.S. port.
Church and civic groups have been calling for pick-ups, adding to the bustling activity at the Seamen’s Center of Wilmington. Just last Tuesday, Executive Director Kathryn Bradley oversaw the delivery of more than 100 gift boxes to the center, ready for the final journey to ships in port. This year marks Bradley’s first Christmas at Sea event, and she is deeply inspired by the dedication of her team.
“We are a volunteer-driven group,” said Bradley. “Our port is very, very supportive, as is our board. It is a fabulous infrastructure.”
Volunteers embedded in the Wilmington community work tirelessly to make this global Christmas outreach possible. The gifts—ranging from socks and gloves to personal care items and playing cards—pile up as wrapping parties take place to prepare for delivery. Stacks of presents await their journey, filling the center with a sense of festive chaos.
“It looks like a storm went through. There are presents everywhere,” said Shivana Berardesco, the center’s office manager. “We have great community support.”
Last year, 1,201 seafarers received Christmas gift boxes in Wilmington. From oiler to captain, the joy on their faces was evident as many received the only gift they would get that season. This year, the goal is to distribute 1,000 Christmas boxes. Currently, 680 have been personally delivered, with outreach extending to both the Delaware City port, known for its quick turnaround times, and Ocean Port.
“This is meaningful to me,” said Berardesco, who has been involved in the program since she joined the center in 2022. “The feeling that you get when giving to the seafarers who are away from their families at Christmas—you know you are doing something right.”
The Christmas outreach is a monumental effort to bring comfort and joy to the often-overlooked community of seafarers. Few people know these individuals personally, but the collective support from churches, civic organizations, and individuals makes all the difference.
“It’s kind of mind-blowing to know all the people who get involved. Everybody does something every day for the seafarers,” said Bradley. Recently, Grace Episcopal Church in Wilmington donated over 100 boxes, continuing a tradition of involvement that spans more than a decade. “It is a form of outreach that means a lot to me because it is something we can all contribute to,” said Tom Marshall, a vestry member. “The parish really wraps their arms around this. We even have a churchwide event where the entire parish gathers to wrap the gifts.”
The Church of Four Chaplains in Philadelphia also played a significant role, partnering with cadets from the Maritime Academy Charter School to contribute a tremendous number of boxes. For those connected to the maritime industry, the importance of supporting seafarers during the holidays resonates deeply.
“It’s an overwhelming thing, from start to finish, to see the number of people giving the utmost of what they have,” Bradley reflected. “People are so thoughtful and generous with their time for the seafarers. When they understand what seafarers do for us in the supply chain, the vastness of this collective effort becomes especially poignant at Christmas.”
The Seamen’s Center of Wilmington, established in 1990, was created through a partnership between maritime and church communities and the Port of Wilmington Maritime Society. Its mission is to serve all seafarers on the Delaware River, providing personal, practical, and spiritual support to this often-lonely and forgotten group. The deepwater port, located just 65 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, is the leading importer of fresh fruits and juice concentrate in North America, with vessel turnaround times often less than 24 hours.
For Bradley, one of the biggest challenges is finding ways to properly thank everyone involved in this monumental effort. “It’s difficult to be away from home at Christmas,” she said of the seafarers. “I appreciate the difference our dedicated community makes in their lives.”
