Their goal is ambitious for a newly-formed, custom T-shirt company, but Patches Clothing is hitting the ground running towards making a difference.
Demetric Gillespie and Brandon Reason formed their organization just two years ago, and just as important as making a name for themselves in fashion is their need to encourage Generation Y to realize the importance of giving back.
In their first community service effort, they are doing so by offering a good time for a good cause. Patches spearheaded an event that will be taking young people from Gateway Homeless Shelter on a trip to see the Cardinals play – a first for many of the center’s young residents – on Sunday, October 4.
The event is not sponsored or affiliated with the shelter, but an initiative that Gillespie decided to embark upon after seeing these children go through the motions of poverty through his job.
“I work at the homeless shelter, and I see that the children don’t have anything,” Gillespie said.
“Since I get to see them every day, I know most of them haven’t been to a Cardinals game. This would be a good way to give back and give them something they haven’t had before.”
They enlisted party promoters, fellow fashion entrepreneurs, a beauty salon and a technology repair company and are asking the general public as well to aid them in their efforts to sponsor 100 homeless children.
“This thing is really doing itself,” Gillespie said. “People see a good thing, and they want to be a part of it.”
B. Free Papparazzi, Virtuosa Fashion, SYGU, Rich City Ent, Get Twisted Salon, Black Label Lounge and Computers R Us have agreed to sponsor at least five children a piece.
So here’s the stealing deal thanks to a pricing partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals: for $25, you get a ticket to the game, a T-shirt, hot-dog and help pay for one child’s ticket.
For those of us young people, think about it … that’s about the one entry price and ONE drink at most area clubs that would be blown any given weekend.
“Twenty five dollars won’t hurt,” Gillespie said. “Even in a recession.”
For the same cost, one can help make an everlasting impression and still hang out among the young, black and fabulous crowd – and at Busch Stadium. Priceless!
“It all started two months ago,” Gillespie said. “I talked to the Cardinals, and they joined in with us. We still have money to raise, so anything you can give from $5 to $500 will help.”
Gillespie hopes that his current 9 to 5 at Gateway Homeless shelter becomes temporary as Patches Clothing grows, but wants to create a permanent impression on the children he currently serves.
“Some of them don’t even have shoes, so I wanted to give them a little bit of joy for one day – to give them one day out of the year to smile,” Gillespie said.
The added bonus in participating is not just all of the bang for the buck of a baseball ticket, refreshments and a T-shirt, but the instant gratification of being side by side with the young people as they are served a slice of hope and encouragement.
“Cardinals is in first place, and you are helping out children who don’t have a home,” Gillespie said.
“It’s gonna be fun even if you don’t even like baseball and – who knows – if you can make their day, you could help break the cycle of failure.”
In addition to the October 4 game at 1:15 p.m., there will be a special pre-celebration party on October 3 and a party following the game hosted by the Black Label Gallery and Lounge, 758 S. 4th St. They will be holding a charity drive during the pre-party, where seasonal clothing, can/dry goods, as well as cash donation will be accepteds.
All ticket holders will receive drink specials on both the pre-game on Saturday and the post-game happy hour following the cardinals game on Sunday.
For more information call (314) 598-5660 or visit www.patchesclothing.com.
