by Naomi Walker
Manager, Special Projects

From the Spring 2023 Lookout Magazine

Janet Temchus first learned of the Seamen’s Church Institute when the Rev. Jean Smith, President and Executive Director at the time, came to the Trinity Church in Cranford, NJ to give a talk. In response, the church started a coat drive, because at that time seafarers weren’t dressed warmly enough to leave their ships. One cold, snowy Saturday, Janet and her friend drove to the ISC to deliver the coats. Upon arriving at the Center, they found a group of seafarers huddled at a nearby bus stop, trying to get warm. They opened the trunk and gave out coats to all of them. Janet says on that day she became hooked, and had to know more about SCI.

“Seamen’s Church makes a difference by giving everyone the dignity and respect they deserve. We listen, and the seafarers we serve are grateful.”

Janet Temchus

The Seamen’s Church Institute first opened a seafarers’ center in the Port of New York and New Jersey in 1961. The beautiful facility is now a haven of peace in the busy port, offering seafarers, truckers, and port workers alike somewhere to rest and recharge, talk with staff and chaplains, use the gym, have a shower, organize transport to local malls, and even arrange to meet family members.

In the years since Janet started with SCI in 2003, much has changed at the Center. Where previously there were banks of phone booths for seafarers to make calls home, now there is comfortable seating and free WiFi because everyone has their own mobile device. Now that transportation is more widely available, many mariners use their few, precious hours of shore leave to visit malls, or even make a trip into New York City.

A Day in the Life of the ISC

Janet’s day begins by navigating the huge trucks carrying containers and other loads on the roads leading into the Port. Once at the SCI Center, Janet opens the doors and settles in at reception, ready to help all who come through the door. She takes calls from ships requesting transport for their crews during shore leave, helps drivers needing to place money orders, and welcomes port workers who want to use the gym.

Our Port Chaplains use the ship list Janet compiles each day to divide vessel visits between them. Each ship coming into port receives a visit, and often additional visits follow. The rest of the day involves caring for people from her desk.

I asked Janet about a memorable moment during her time at the ISC, and she told me that once a seafarer came to the Center to use the computer, and then shared with all the staff that his wife was giving birth to his first child! He passed around cigars, and everyone at SCI was delighted to share such a special time with him.

Janet says, “People are my favorite aspect of this job. I have met so many seafarers, drivers, and port workers who are so happy to be in a warm and welcoming environment at the ISC. Everyone loves the respite they get from the bustle outside. As I am writing this, I am doing a money order, calling a taxi for a seafarer, and looking at his photos with him until the taxi arrives.”

Janet sums it up: “Seamen’s Church makes a difference by giving everyone the dignity and respect they deserve. We listen, and the seafarers we serve are grateful.”