Patriotic T-shirt sales help Red Cross

In the days after the terrorist attacks shell-shocked the United States, Americans scrambled for ways to show their renewed sense of patriotism.

A small group of businesses in Cape Girardeau decided to help Southeast Missouri citizens show that re-ignited American pride while also doing something tangible to aid in the disaster relief effort in Washington, D.C., and New York.

They made T-shirts decorated with blazing U.S. flags, the proud eagle and a quote from President Bush. The shirts were given to residents for a $10 donation. The result has been more than $100,000 in collections that will be given to the American Red Cross for disaster relief.

The idea was spearheaded by Jennifer Drury, owner of CS Printing.

"On that Wednesday morning, I knew we had to do something," she said. "And it turned out everybody wanted to help. We all knew doing it on our own would be a chaotic task, but working together would be more meaningful."

Zimmer Radio Group, Rhodes 101, Auto Tire and Parts and Plaza Tire, each donated at least $500 each to pay the costs of printing the T-shirts. Some businesses donated more than $1,000, but wished to remain anonymous.

Then they were made available at various stores, and others volunteered to help sell them. The Jackson Police Department sold 750. A woman from Perryville sold 200 in just a few hours at the fair at Altenburg.

Project snowballs

"It was a success because everybody worked together," Drury said. "It just snowballed. We all just worked our butts off."

Greg Stroup, president of Auto Tire & Parts, said the T-shirts hit a chord with people.

"The thing that I was encouraged by was the spirit of cooperation," Stroup said. "And every single cent of profit is going to the American Red Cross. It's been very encouraging to me to see how the community responded."

Mary Burton, executive director of the American Red Cross Southeast Missouri Regional Chapter in Cape Girardeau, said she has been gratified to see such a strong community response.

"The word that keeps coming to mind is overwhelmed," she said. "People are working so hard to support what we do."

In addition to collecting donated blood, the local Red Cross chapter has sent volunteers to the front lines. Mental health worker Steve Stacy is working in a morgue in New Jersey to work with families who are coming to the morgue to identify loved ones, Burton said. Husband-and-wife team Billie and Jim Propst are working in an emergency relief vehicle near the Brooklyn Bridge, handing out food and supplies to disaster-relief workers. Disaster relief worker Jackie Jackels left Wednesday for New York to help staffing needs there.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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