BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — What was supposed to be a one-year project has turned into a mission lasting more than a decade.
26 Shirts, the Buffalo apparel company founded by Del Reid, is entering its 14th year of turning Buffalo-themed T-shirts into a way to help Western New York families facing serious illness and unexpected hardship.
For Reid, it is a career he never expected.
"Never in a million years would I have thought this was going to be my vocation," Reid said. "I really thought I was just gonna work at a cube for 30 years, retire and then just, you know, be done with my career, but God had other plans."
Born from Bills Mafia
The idea for 26 Shirts developed during the early years of Bills Mafia, as Reid's growing social media presence resulted in families reaching out and asking him to share their stories and fundraisers.
Reid says the connection between the two is inseparable.
"Without Bills Mafia there is no 26 Shirts," Reid said. In 2013, Reid came up with an idea: release 26 Buffalo-themed shirt designs, one every two weeks for one year, with the campaigns helping families in need.
The one-year project never stopped.
With a typical T-shirt purchase, around $8 goes to the ...