Volunteer Days

Individuals, families, and groups come to the Boston mission for focused days of service, and some opportunities may also be available at the Providence mission as well.

The Boston Seafarers Center operates on Cruise Ship Days with 6-12 volunteers. Cruise Ship Days come from April to the end of October whenever there is a cruise ship in port. Weekend days usually fill up first with churches and individuals who've been doing this for years. We host the Norwegian Spirit every Friday from April through October. This ship calls Boston its home for that time and we see many repeat visits from seafarers. In general, Cruise Days at the beginning of the month see more foot traffic than those towrds the end.

Volunteers receive training and assistance to help seafarers contact home, send home wages, find the things they need. You don't need any particular experience or background, and we try to put you where you will be successful. A lack of volunteers means that we have to close parts of the mission for service on that day. There may be only one seafarer who needs a particular service, but that seafarer needs this particular service badly, and so does his or her family. It's a shame when we can't be fully open, but only your participation can prevent such a thing from happening.

Volunteers should bring a bag lunch. A soda and a bag of chips will be provided for each volunteer. There's free coffee and tea for all (and worth every penny!). We have two microwave ovens and a refridgerator on the premises.

Arrive by 8 am for Cruise Ship activity. We like to finish up around 4pm and get you on your way home.

NESM is easily reached through the subway system in Boston, and that sure beats driving during the weekdays.