Expanding Ripples – Fed By Threads

What inspired you to begin the work you do?

When my partner Jade Beall was bulging pregnant, we decided to make a community dance shirt for our studio here in Tucson, and at the same time we learned from the local food bank about the absolutely devastating depths of the hunger problem in the United States with over 50 million Americans facing food-insecurity. We said to ourselves, “Our family has to do something, even if it is a small act!” So we decided to simply feed 12 meals through the food banks every time someone bought one of our dance shirts. And hence, Fed By Threads was born. But we never expected to be apparel people: instead this bloomed out of our way of life, our belief in caring for the environment, helping the needy, and supporting local and the national economy. That is what drives us each day when we wake up, and we just happen to offer clothing that represents that way of life. Also, after my mother died of cancer three years ago, I began to educate myself about all of the chemicals and additives that surround us every day here in America, including pesticides used to grow our food and many of the raw materials in our clothing. I was shocked at what I learned and set out to take baby steps to change my own life. Through all of this, I have realized how powerful all of our choices are and that through voting with our wallets, we can be part of a movement, a tidal wave of change.

Alok – Co-Founder of Fed By Threads

Jade – Co-Founder of Fed By Threads

Fed By Threads is my life’s work coming together! I am passionate about meeting people and talking to them about the environment, helping the hungry, and supporting our country’s economy. More than that, however, I get to learn about their lives. You see, Fed By Threads attracts equally passionate people who stand up for what they believe in and live by those beliefs. Their stories are so inspiring to me and I feel blessed to meet them every day when we open our doors. I love knowing that people walk out with a different sense about the power of the choices and a renewed sense that together we can change things!

Is there anything you would change about what you do?

Not a thing: we are taking baby steps, trying to do things right, growing organically, and getting fabulous advice from many people around us.

What new skills have you learned through your experiences and how have you applied them to other aspects of your life?

We have learned patience and a deeper sense of gratitude for everything we have in our lives. When we learned about how vast the hunger problems are in the United States, we doubled our efforts to be grateful for the gifts in our lives. We’ve also learned about the apparel industry, how to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and many other aspects of retail & clothing that we never imagined we’d be involved with. That has been a major learning curve!

What have been your greatest challenges in spreading the word about hunger in the US?

Given our marketing team consists of just the two of us working on a limited marketing budget, we face challenges that bigger organizations don’t face in terms of getting our message out. We are, however, incredibly grateful to the numerous people who help us spread our message about helping the needy in this country via word of mouth. I think people simply don’t know how bad the hunger problem is in the United States, even in working families who are struggling to put food on the table.

What can people do on a daily basis to affect change in the world around them?

The number one thing we can do is to remember that the tiniest changes in our own lives actually add up. If we commit to making one tiny change each month, in a couple years, we will look back and be shocked at how far we have shifted. Baby steps of change can seem miniscule until we realize we aren’t alone. Meet other like-minded people who are doing the same things you are doing. Don’t feel alone. Connect online or in your communities. But don’t feel pressure to be ‘perfect’ and change all at once. Give yourself credit for every little change you make, no matter how small. Waste less, reuse more, be more generous, consume less, be more mindful, and all of that actually has a high likelihood of raising the quality of your life! That is what has worked for me!

Is there anything else you’d like people to know?

Together, we can make a difference. That isn’t a catch-phrase: it is truth. Every day I connect to more and more people who are realizing how much power we have to make change! It is the most exciting thing I have ever experienced in my life. Once we taste this and join with others so we don’t have to go it alone, there is no turning back!