Uniforms Come In All Styles

Wednesday 01st of June 2011 05:01:50 AM

When you think of uniforms, you probably think of work clothes or school clothes or even military clothing. The reality is that clothing considered to be uniforms can also be simply printed t-shirts. The purpose of uniforms is to identify people who belong to a particular group and to provide comfortable clothing. Using this definition, the bright yellow t-shirts worn by the Mormon volunteers helping tornado victims can be considered uniforms.

When violent tornadoes tore through the Southern U.S. states in April 2011, a wake of damage was left behind for miles. The recovery effort requires a combined effort on the part of neighbors, friends, the government and volunteers. Volunteers included the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they showed up in force to help their community. Wearing yellow t-shirts that have printed hands on them, over 4,000 Mormons showed up to help the recovery effort. Coming from many miles and a number of states, their ‘Morman Helping Hands’ volunteer group helped clear the thousands of fallen trees.

The volunteer group wearing printed t-shirts were a welcomed sight too. They brought chain saws and got to work. The tornado ravaged city residents were quick to point out that the volunteers were able to do more work in an hour than they could have accomplished in days.

Faith groups in general have played an important role in the recovery efforts. They cut up fallen trees, hand out donated food and clothes, and counsel the weary. All faiths have been represented too including the Baptists, the Islamic Relief Agency, the Episcopalians, the Lutherans, the Catholics and many other denominations. The volunteers pay their own expenses too adding to the sacrifices they are making. Good neighbors are not hard to find, but sometimes it takes a tragedy to find out they are there to help.