2014-05-26 | Oana Ungureanu, Blogger

Seamen’s Club Newark, New Jersey – USA

The building deeply impressed me with its great grandeur and architecture. I had never seen such a large and luxurious Seamen's Club building in my life.

I visited Seamen’s Club in Newark for the first time on a cold February morning. We arrived there with a young volunteer who took us from the boat and offered to take us to the club or the mall - which was also nearby. I chose to go to the club because I really wanted to see with my own eyes what such a club in the United States looks like, after seeing more in Europe.

Right from the first sight, the building deeply impressed me with its great grandeur and architecture. I had never seen a Seamen's Club building as big and luxurious as this in my life.



The Seamen’s Club building in Newark was completely renovated two years ago, after the old building (opened in 1898) was destroyed by the terrible Sandy storm that caused huge damage on the East Coast of the United States.



Built on a very large area, but also on two floors, the whole building has a capacity of at least one hundred people at a time. Most of those who work here are volunteers (as in all the clubs of this kind that I have visited before) or, more precisely, partly volunteers (they receive small sums of money for food). The driver who brought us to the club told me that he was from Ohio and came to New York a year ago to work in such a field because he didn't have much chance of finding a job elsewhere and here he is very satisfied. Especially since he was raised in such a spirit, in a very religious family and always involved in volunteer activities. Unfortunately, here he receives a place to stay, pocket money for food, a car permanently available (including diesel for private trips) and sometimes, if the sailors are more generous with donations, he also manages to raise a few pennies. Like him, three or four other young people work at this Seamen's Mission in Newark, but there are a few who are just volunteers and come three times a week to help. Many more volunteers come during the Christmas holidays when the Mission carries out more extensive volunteer programs in which up to 25-30 young people, mostly students or pupils, can be involved.



For 116 years, during Christmas, the Mission has had a program - Christmas at Sea - that aims to give gifts to sailors on duty. These gifts are collected through an extensive donation program that takes place throughout the year in all US states and ends in early November. At that point, volunteers at Newark's Seamen's Club (as well as five other affiliated missions) begin sorting and distributing all donations, wrapping them in bags, and finally taking their role as Santa Claus and going to the ships that arrive in New York. port after December 10-15 to pay a little attention to each sailor on board. Gift bags contain some sweets and toiletries, greeting cards and small decorations for the Christmas tree, but the products that are most sought after and appreciated are woolen garments, crocheted or woven, just right for the cold season - hats, scarves, gloves, socks.



This activity originated during the American-Spanish War when several women's associations in America initiated a donation program for soldiers on the front, a program in which women crocheted and knitted such woolen garments that reached, through through volunteers, directly to those who needed them most, that is, to the soldiers on the front. The ‘Christmas at Sea’ program is dedicated exclusively to sailors and attracts, since its inauguration in 1898, more and more volunteers, eager to contribute in this way and to carry on this beautiful tradition. Last but not least, the sailors, who directly benefit from this program, are also very happy and satisfied.

Of course, much has changed today, and sailors are much more privileged than soldiers fighting on the front. Now, they can afford to go shopping in the city and make their own gifts - smaller or larger - to place (literally or figuratively) under the Christmas tree. But we all know that, regardless of age, we always want gifts or small attentions from people who love us, just to further strengthen our belief that we are not indifferent to them. Moreover, these gifts have a higher sentimental value when they are given to you by strangers.

You know, for sure, that they were worked with great pleasure, by people who do not know you, but who have invested in their work all the warmth and goodness possible, to make you feel better, to prove to you that you are not you are alone in this world during this time when you are so far away from your family at home. Christmas is always a reason for joy and celebration, and the true spirit of the holidays can be described in very few words - give, love and rejoice with your loved ones. And, as we can't always be with our loved ones, Christmas with your multinational 'family' on the ship can be less sad because of Santa Claus sharing gifts, given in turn by other people, perhaps just as sad as you. During the war, women who cared for the sick or those who simply crocheted thick wool socks probably thought of their boyfriends, fathers, or brothers who were at the front, hoping that someone there would take care of them as well. they, another woman will knit a scarf or a hat to keep them warm. Even today, we are guided by the same ideas and principles… 'we give to have, we love to be loved, we are good to others so that others are good to us, we do good because we are sure that at at some point that good will return. ' So think these women from dozens (maybe even hundreds) of American associations who contribute each year to the ‘Christmas at Sea’ program. In 2013, over 30,000 crocheted (or braided) products were collected through this program and reached over 30,000 sailors in the form of Christmas gifts.



It seems to me an extraordinary idea and, at the same time, a clear proof that people can be better and together they can overcome obstacles and work miracles. I know that there are many such donation programs around the world, not only for sailors, but also for the sick, for the elderly in nursing homes, for orphaned children, for those suffering from wars or natural disasters. All we need to do is want to be better and more generous, and we will always find people who need our help.



The Seamen’s Club in Newark is actually called the Seamens ’Church Institute and has five other branches, one of which is in Houston. Like all such clubs in the world, it is under the patronage of the church and survives only on private donations. In Newark, Seamen’s Church Institute is supported by the Pentecostal church, but is accessible to all religious denominations.



The whole building is very modern, both inside and out, it has a high ground floor, a large and open floor and another partial floor, from where you can look down over the entire opening. On the first floor, where most of the activities take place, there is a huge hall, divided into several separate and intimate spaces with the help of semi-high walls. On one side is an area with many computers, all connected to the internet, which can be used for free.



A ping pong table and a pool table are also waiting to be used by amateurs. On a wall, a huge TV and in front of it, a few comfortable armchairs, are also prepared for any wish.

In one corner, there are several coffee / tea machines (free), and in another corner there are several shelves with books that can be borrowed.

Also on the ground floor, somewhere on the right, there is a chapel - which looks like a regular church, with an altar, wooden chairs arranged in several rows, icons on the walls and stained glass in the windows. Services are held here, but not according to a specific schedule, not every Sunday, but whenever someone wants to. The preacher stays in the building permanently (as long as the club is open) and anyone can go to him to confess or ask for a job.

Absolutely all the services offered by the Seamens ’Church Institute in Newark are free, but donations from sailors (and not only) are welcome at any time. Donation boxes are available at the reception and in all cars carrying sailors to and from the ship.

Oana Ungureanu, Blogger