Building success

by Bridget Cooke
Editor

T-Shirts for Tomorrow has a new achievement to be proud of; they are currently assembling their biggest order, and only the second outside of the Augusta community.

Just nine weeks into the program after gaining the equipment to create t-shirts and other products out of Augusta High School, the workers at T-Shirts for Tomorrow are putting together an order for 500 canvas bags, placed by the Chip Valley Salsa Company out of Eau Claire, who sell Chip Magnet Salsa in the Chippewa Valley.

Adviser Kati Meyer said it is a great opportunity and has highlighted their hopes of a bright future with the program to receive a large job, which could bring about more in the future through promotion of the program.

“It’s really exciting for the students,” Meyer said. “Knowing that a local business in Eau Claire is going to give you an order for 500 pieces is pretty exciting. We’ve been really excited to start working on it.”

As a part of the promotion during Black Friday sales, Chip Valley’s Alexis Lucas said the company uses the bags as a give away product while selling assorted salsas and other products at their kiosk in Oakwood Mall.

Lucas has promised to display the name of the program at that kiosk as well as promoting T-Shirts for Tomorrow to those interested in the canvas bags.

The company is a local-oriented small business, which encompasses locally and regionally-grown products put into their food, which they have created as a GMO-free and vegan and gluten-free product, according to their website.

Lucas shared that through her connection with Meyer, who has been a valued customer for some time to the company which officially gained ground in 2011, she was able to reach out and place an order for the bags through T-Shirts for Tomorrow and has every confidence the workers will complete the product in time for the retail holiday and the appearance will be impressive.

Placed the first week of November, Meyer said the job was officially begun Friday, and that T-Shirts for Tomorrow hopes to conclude everything by the week of Thanksgiving.

The only other company outside of the city of Augusta and the school district to place an order with the program and student workers was Burly ‘N Bucks, which Meyer said they had initially thought was a step in the right direction when they created the order for the business.

Other than that, businesses have remained within the community and the organization Beautify Augusta has also placed orders, but the past order placements have been primarily for school activities. Though the support from the community and members of the school district has been overwhelmingly positive, Meyer said.

“People have really liked what we’ve done,” Meyer said. “They’ve liked what we’ve printed, they’ve liked the quality. Overall, the feedback has been very good.”

Lucas shared her opinion of the program itself, encouraging the use of student work to help teach young people more about the work environment.

“I am big fan of real-life learning and for kids to be involved in a program like this where they’re learning something they typically wouldn’t learn in school, I just think that’s a real bonus,” Lucas said. “It gives them something to do they probably would enjoy, and possibly a skill later in life.”

Meyer said though it is a learning process, the program is hoping to continue its upward climb, despite only fully functioning for nine weeks so far. In the future, she said it is a hopeful option to have a better grasp on all of the required equipment and the software, which is used to create the designs.

“I’m really excited to where it could potentially go,” Meyer said. “Kids need a program that is a little out of the ordinary. It just adds a little excitement to our school day.”

T-Shirts for Tomorrow is currently self-sufficient and even making a small profit over time, just nine weeks into the program. Meyer said the students are proud in their creations and even show excitement when they are able to provide someone within the community, or now the surrounding area, with a useful and aesthetic product.

In September 2013, Cooke was hired as the editor of both the Augusta Area Times and the Tri-County News. She can be reached via ateditor@media-md.net or (715) 597-3313. Follow us on Twitter or check out our Facebook page for more updates!