Impressions - June/July 2021 - 33

T SHIR T S F OR HOPE A T A GLANCE
COMPANY NAME: Tshirts For Hope
FOUNDED: 2015
DECORATION METHODS OFFERED: Screen printing
WEBSITE: tsforhope.org
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/tsforhope
INSTAGRAM: @tsforhope
Printing orders for companies like
Carolina Productions helped Tshirts
For Hope stay afloat during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
other manufacturers. Allmade, BELLA +
CANVAS and Alternative are a few of its
favorite partners. The shop's passion and
future focus is water-based printing, with
support and training from suppliers like
MagnaColours and Ryonet.
" I began in the industry as a hobby to
help me battle my anxiety and depression, "
Massey says. " I saw T-shirts as a way to make
a statement - a way to take a stand without
having to say a word. It grew from there. I
don't pull a paycheck from the shop, but [I]
invest my money in helping other people
and pay it forward. The print shop allows me
to meet my neighbors locally and support
them globally. " .
Embracing Asian Heritage
A Mental-Health Warrior
The Tshirts For Hope website includes a
reference that sheds light on the place from
which Massey operates, describing the company
as " a little bit Japanese and embracing
our Asian heritage, which makes us a little
unique. " At a time when the Asian American
and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community
is experiencing hateful and unwarranted
attacks on its people and culture, Massey
takes a stand on the issue.
" Social harmony and hard work are strong
values in the Asian culture, " Massey says.
" What is happening to our community
is devastating and very unfortunate. Our
family has printed shirts to wear and share
It should come as no surprise that the
COVID-19 pandemic forced Massey to
dig a little deeper to fight her constant battles
with anxiety. Massey found help in some
unexpected places. For example, Tshirts
For Hope worked with the Fellowship
of Christian Athletes to print shirts for its
virtual marathon. In addition, her college
diversity-and-inclusion families have been
active during the pandemic by planning
shirts and artwork to support students.
Massey met Carolina Productions' David
and Julie Svenson when she volunteered
to be an extra in a Kendrick Bros.
that say things like, 'A little bit Asian,' 'I am
the Asian Community' and 'We are in this
together.' I find empowerment and joy in
printing shirts to support others, coming
together and, of course, helping other businesses
survive. "
Massey hopes the simple-yet-powerful
designs will let the AAPI community know
they're not alone. " We pray over every shirt
we print when it goes on the printing press
and when it is boxed, " she says. " Wearing
a statement shirt, especially for the AAPI
community around town or on social
media, is like leaving the front-porch light
on for someone. It reminds them that they
are always welcome and have a safe place
to come. "
movie that was filmed in her hometown.
The Svensons ended up using Tshirts For
Hope's pre-COVID inventory to complete
their orders. David Svenson also insisted that
Massey include her company's website as
part of Carolina Productions' custom tag.
" There are a lot of really good and kind
people in the world, so you have to keep your
eyes and hearts open, " Massey says. " Being
a mental-health warrior is so important. "
Moving ahead in a post-pandemic landscape,
there are lessons every company will
embrace. For a company that thrives, on
face-to-face interactions, Tshirts For Hope
plans to further that philosophy. " We haven't
done any e-commerce business by choice, "
Massey says. " In-person sales is where we
thrive. We love relationships and e-commerce
just isn't the same experience. "
The company's future will be filled with
what Massey believes in the most - spreading
a gospel of positivity, along with a plan
to print for larger groups that do local and
global ministry work. While she's not sure
how that'll look, she's positive that she can
achieve her goals.
" I remind myself that a local print has
a global impact, " she says. " We want to be
a light in the darkness. I want to be totally
transparent when I say, 'It's OK to not be
OK,' no matter what society tries to make
us believe. 'It's fine, everything's fine, I'm
fine' is a slogan that's all over apparel on
social media lately, and it makes my heart
break a little each time I see it. "
With a passion squarely rooted in finding
the good in any type of evil, Massey is
committed to chipping away at the negative
parts of the world that seem to find their
way to each of us - one shirt at a time. 
Michael J. Pallerino is an award-winning writer who has
written for a number of national consumer and trade
publications. For more information or to comment on
this article, email Michael at mpallerino@gmail.com.
JUNE/JULY 2021
P.33
http://www.tsforhope.org http://www.facebook.com/tsforhope
Impressions - June/July 2021

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