As members of The Gathering began to hear of the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments after Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols had signed a $254 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, they decided to act.
“We heard people were burning their Pujols jerseys, and someone said, ‘Why don’t we ask them to donate the jerseys, and we’ll give them away?'” said the Rev. Matt Miofsky, the pastor of the United Methodist church.
The 5-year-old church christened the effort, the “Recycle the Five Drive,” a play on Pujols’ jersey number. It began Facebook and Twitter campaigns to let disappointed Cardinals fans turn their anger into a positive.
People I’ve worked with have done similar things with their company-logoed gear after they retire – they drive around the streets and hand things out to the destitute. I suspect that is true in many other places where worship of the brand name or profit becomes grossly more important than concern for the employee.
I should add, I recognize the tragic ironies in the story I’ve shared.