RENE VAN DER SCHAFT

SMT Shipping gives a warm welcome to René van der Schaft who joined the Purchasing Department in the Vlaardingen office on December 8, 2019. René has enjoyed a 32-year career as a purchaser of technical equipment for recreational and small commercial vessels. In his spare time, René likes to spend time with his 2 grandchildren and plays golf with his wife and friends.

WE WELCOME...

SMT Shipping is delighted to announce the birth of Mateusz Kreft, son of Magdalena Pawlaczyk of SMT’s Technical Department. Mateusz was born on January 19, 2020, weighing 2110kg and measuring 46cm. Welcome to the SMT family, Mateusz!

Congratulations to Marta Starzinska of SMT’s Purchasing Department and proud father Janusz on the birth of their daughter Zofia Starzinska- Hinc!Born on April 10, 2020, Zofia weighed in at 2700kg and measured 50 cm.
Welcome Zofia!

SMT volunteers to feed hungry New Yorkers

SMT’s Vanessa Voorham volunteering with Brown Bag Program Monitor Eddie Mouzon. Each day, Mr. Mouzon walks an hour from his home to work with volunteers like Vanessa to support hungry New Yorkers.

The CoVid-19 pandemic has caused dramatic economic upheaval around the world, including in many communities where SMT employees work and live. Many staff members are taking time to help family, friends, and neighbors get through the crisis – and others are volunteering with local charities to help their communities in their hour of need.

One such charity is the Brown Bag Lunch Program at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church in New York City. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a recent press briefing that he believes about two million New Yorkers are facing significant food shortages as a result of the pandemic.
The Brown Bag Program attempts to address this food insecurity by offering bag lunches to needy neighbors on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Typically, lunches consist of a canned or microwave entrée, two small cans of juice, vegetables, fruit, and yogurt.

According to the program director, Rev. Kathleen Liles, “There is no such thing as a typical client, some are older and retired, some are young and scared, some are just out of work, some are homeless, some are caregivers to older people or young children in the neighborhood...For too many, the Brown Bag is the only meal they have in the day, particularly now. Since the city was put on pause by the Governor and so many jobs evaporated, the number of people finding the program has increased dramatically”.

SMT Shipping is a corporate sponsor of the Brown Bag Program, and Voorham family members volunteer weekly to distribute bags to needy clients. Says SMT’s Vanessa Voorham, “Volunteering with the program provides our family with a wonderful opportunity to help others – and it is an important reminder that this pandemic has caused serious devastation for so many in our community”.

Rien Kok and Gerard Tavenier, Canna Publishing, working on this digital Spring edition