Tucson Electric Power is going local and American-made by purchasing its blue employee volunteer shirts from Fed By Threads, a Tucson-based company that donates 12 emergency meals for every shirt sold.
The partnership between TEP and Fed By Threads already has generated 9,120 meals for Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization.
“If we can fulfill our mission of community service by helping nonprofits with their missions, it’s a win-win for everyone,” said Wendy Erica Werden, TEP’s Manager of Community Investment & Philanthropy.
For 20-plus years, TEP has made a difference in Tucson through its organized employee volunteer program. Throughout the years, employees have worn iconic blue t-shirts while they volunteer in the community.
Werden first learned about Fed By Threads when she participated in last year’s Hunger Walk with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
“I thought it was smart of these two organizations to work together to address hunger in our community,” she said. When it came time to order a new batch of TEP shirts, going with Fed By Threads was an easy decision.
“Even though these shirts are slightly more expensive, they signify our commitment to the community and local nonprofits,” she said.
By partnering with Fed By Threads, TEP demonstrates that the purchasing power of a large company can be used to make positive changes.
Fed By Threads is honored to partner with TEP and its employee volunteers, said Alok Appadurai, the company’s Co-Founder.
Fed By Threads is located at 345 E. Congress St., just blocks from TEP’s downtown headquarters building. The company started humbly with a mission to fight hunger and never intended to get into custom shirt printing. But over time, small businesses and organizations with a shared mission of service — such as TEP — came calling.
“Our community is thrilled to see TEP support American jobs, better the environment and have a humanitarian impact as well — all through one simple choice,” Appadurai said. “TEP’s decision is really lending a helping hand to those who need it.”
Werden hopes TEP’s partnership with Fed By Threads inspires other large businesses in Southern Arizona to make a difference.
“We’re being more conscious as consumers, and we’d love to make more people feel like they can make a difference,” she said. “Hopefully this can be a spark that inspires others.”
