One Sunday, a pastor wore an extra large pair of underwear over his suit. He wasn’t preaching about Fruit of the Loom spirit or even about clothing oneself in the full armor of God. Rather, his unusual fashion choice served one purpose — to remind his congregation about Undie Sunday.
“The congregation said it was a hoot,” recalled Belinda Toms, executive director of Tyrand Cooperative Ministries. “He really got their attention.”
This year, Undie Sunday falls on Oct. 23, and just as it has for more than two decades, the day serves as a reminder of the critical need for an often overlooked donation — underwear.
All sizes of new boxers, briefs, underwear, T-shirts, thermal underwear, socks, and training pants will be collected for mission projects within the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Churches are asked to collect and then take the donations to their district office or to the mission project their district is supporting.
“Underwear is kind of a staple,” Toms said. “It’s something we give out to clients, especially children who get toys at Christmas, along with gloves and toboggans. We give underwear to their parents, too.”
It’s not just that clients need underwear. It’s that donations of underwear free up mission funds for other necessities, including food.
“Undie Sunday really helps on our budget,” Toms explained.
Across the Conference, missions use donations from Undie Sunday to carry out projects yearround. Several missions partner with local schools to see that students in need have the necessary items. Others keep them available so that food pantry clients are able to take them whenever needed. Some donate them to recently released inmates and to CPS workers for children who may have had to leave a home with few, if any, personal items.
“There’s always a need for underwear,” Toms said.
Conference districts are collecting for specific missions. The Greenbrier/Wesleyan District is collecting for Tyrand Cooperative Ministires. Little Kanawha District is collecting for the Upshur Parish House. Midland South/Western District is collecting for Heart & Hand Outreach Ministries in Charleston and Ebenezer Community Outreach Minstries. The Mon Valley District is collecting for Scott’s Run Settlement House. The Northern District is collecting for House of the Carpenter. The Potomac Highlands District is collecting for Heart & Hand House in Barbour County. And the Southern District is collecting for the Greater Clarksburg Parish House.
Churches are encouraged to start their collection campaigns as soon as possible so that members remember to bring new underwear on Oct. 23. Some may choose to set up collection boxes and special displays.
“It can be fun,” Toms said. “In the beginning we even did a clothesline at Annual Conference with underwear hanging from it.”