Do you have a loved one who is a firefighter? If so, then you know how much we as a community owe the men and women who put themselves on the line to keep their towns and cities safe. Whether your loved one is a volunteer or a full-time employee of the fire department, you can let them know how appreciative you are by making them a custom-made t-shirt, designed by you, highlighting the service they give to the community.

You could go a couple different directions with the t-shirt. You could just design a very straightforward, simple shirt that honors the firefighter wearing it. This shirt could have the person’s name on it, and the town and department number, and perhaps a quote expressing thanks or gratitude. You could also have a quote about courage or service, or even just a personal quote like, “Dad, we’re proud of you!” Along with the text, you could have a picture of the person, maybe with the whole department. Or you could include a picture of the fire department or the fire engine, or even a graphic that is not specific to your town, but that will let people know right away that the person wearing this shirt is a firefighter. This image could be anything from a fire hat to a truck to a dalmatian.

You could also, if your firefighter has a sense of humor, be a little more creative and make up a slogan to put on the t-shirt. Think of something that would get the same point across, but in a humorous way. Maybe something like, “This man gets up at four in the morning to rescue your kitten Mimi from a tree. Respect him.” Or, “This man keeps you and your kittens safe from harm. And he looks good in a uniform.” You could also list the years of service, and maybe include a more serious quote or statement of thanks to make sure everyone knows your feelings of pride and gratitude.

You could make t-shirts for the fire department even if you don’t know anyone on the force. Maybe your house was saved from damage by the fire department. Maybe your son wants to be a fireman when he grows up. If you want to show support for the fire department, you could design a t-shirt and give one to each of the firefighters there. Try putting the names of each person on the back of the t-shirt, like a sports jersey. This personalized effect will be exciting to everyone that gets a shirt. The firefighters do their job because they want to, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like recognition every now and then. Whether you are thanking your husband, wife, dad, mom, teacher, or just the friendly firefighter you see on the way to work everyday, consider making a custom t-shirt to show how much you care. It’s a great way to bring the community together and show your support for a very important group of people.