Fundraiser participants wearing same shirt for 31 days
Published 3:40 pm Friday, May 31, 2013
A group from Clanton First Assembly of God is wearing the same T-shirt for 31 days in a row.
Are you curious about why someone would do that? That’s the idea.
On the front of the shirts is printed “My One Shirt,” First Assembly Pastor Aaron Argo said, and the hope is that people who see the shirts ask for more information.
“The purpose of the shirt is to get people to ask, ‘Hey, what is My One Shirt,’ and that gives them a chance to explain,” Argo said.
My One Shirt is a campaign to raise money for missions and bring awareness to the fact that 85 percent of people in the “10/40 Window” own only one shirt.
The 10/40 Window refers to the regions between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator, which includes some of the world’s greatest poverty, lowest quality of life and lack of access to Christian resources.
So, those participating in the My One Shirt campaign use the effort to solicit sponsorships while wearing the shirts.
The church sold the shirts for $20, and the goal is for each participant to raise $85. Participants who raise $100 get their $20 back.
The benchmark was set at $85 because that’s how much it takes to sponsor one pastor in the “Kindles to India” program. Kindles loaded with four years’ worth of college textbooks are sent to Indian pastors.
“It’s basically an entire degree on one Kindle,” Argo said.
Twenty-six people are participating in the My One Shirt effort, which began May 13 and will end June 12.
Participants range in age from 9 to late 30’s. They are allowed to wash their shirts but must wear the same shirt for 31 consecutive days.
For more information about the effort, visit www.my1shirt.com.
To donate to the cause, call Clanton First Assembly of God at 755-7844, or visit www.clantonfirst.org and find the “donations” link.