Operation Pink Shirt

Welcome to Operation Pink Shirt. This operation is Advantage Lumber, LLC's way of giving back to the community that supplies us with our lumber. During a recent trip to Brazil Robert Pelc (Advantage's owner) made an effort to supply local homeless with clothing and money.

Here are some quick facts about the poverty and homelessness in Brazil...

• 32 million children and adolescents live in families with incomes of less than 40 dollars a month.
• In June 2006 the rate of poverty based on labour income was of 18.57% of the population.
• In 2005, Brazil had more than 28 million (16.7%) people that were considered to be illiterate.
• Brazil is second only to South Africa in a world ranking of income inequality.
• The poorest 25 percent in urban areas have completed less then four grades of schooling.
• 30 million children live in conditions that are subhuman and inadequate for their development.

Through our efforts a small percentage of these homeless will be supplied with some basic necessities.  In our photos you will notice that we are giving the homeless a very unique pink color shirt.  This is to raise awareness of the problem of homeless in each city that we visit.  This eye-catching color will draw attention to the homeless people throughout each city and bring it to the forefront of peoples observations. You will also notice that on the front of the shirts is the saying "Tem Madeira?".  This means "Got Wood" in Portuguese.