On May 12, a devastating 7.9 earthquake hit China. Reports claim:
- 45,000,000+ people have been affected by the earthquake
- 5,000,000+ people are now homeless
- 360,000+ people have been injured
- 65,000+ people have died
- Thousands are still missing
You can help China. Buy a shirt.
A graphic designer named Steve has partnered with World Vision to sell 50,000 t-shirts and raise $1,000,000 to help China. It is called FiftyThousandShirts.com.
Really, buying something for me is charity? Why don’t I not buy a shirt, and instead put the whole amount toward helping people. I’ve said the same thing about the product-red campaign. (http://www.joinred.com/)
Churches must cease to be consumer centered and instead facilitate the opportunity to be truly selfless.
Lucky for you, David.
The site gives you that option, too!
[...] out about this over at ChurchRelevance.com. A guy has decided to create shirts to sell on behalf of World Vision’s relief efforts for [...]
Buying something for me, isn’t just about buying a shirt. It’s about being part of a team effort, being a part of something bigger than myself… that’s what the church should help us be anyway, isn’t it?
Plus… Steve Paterson isn’t doing this as a representative of the church. He’s doing it as a follower of God, and God asked him to do something, to use his gifts and talents to help. And that’s what he’s doing.
More of us should be that bold.
This reminds me of rosaloves.com. An object connected with a donation (in this case a shirt) raises awareness and establishes a unified front. To cry “selfishness” on this seems to be a bit too cynical to me. Granted selfishness is an issue with the church, but I think not doing anything (and not doing it well, in a way that gets others involved) is selfish.
I LOVE IT!
David, good point though - I think you’re a little harsh there. Are you giving money to China? I think it helps people to just do it - there are so many causes out there, the shirt gives them a way to donate a small amount and still feel like they did something. But you’re right, we should give without wasting the money on a shirt!
STILL, I LOVE IT!