FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Vapor Sports to open new thrift store in Birmingham, Ala.

SYLACAUGA, AL, Sept. 28, 2009 — Micah McElveen, president of Vapor Sports Ministries, announced that a Vapor Thrift store in Birmingham, Alabama will open in Oct. 3, 2009 as a way to provide affordable goods to the community and to help generate revenue for the work of Vapor Sports Ministries in third-world environments. By reselling gently used donated clothing and materials at an affordable price, Vapor Sports hope to return 80 percent of profits from the store directly into ministry activities and its network of sports centers.

By utilizing volunteers from the local community, Vapor Thrift will operate with low overhead, enabling the non-profit venture to directly support the ministry's mission. Volunteer workers also have an opportunity to earn hourly credit that can be applied to a future Vapor Sports global mission trip.

The store is also intended to raise public awareness of Vapor Sports Ministries in the greater Birmingham area through in-store displays and an information center. The store is also a center for discipleship, service and ministry activity.

The store is currently accepting donations of gently used clothing, shoes, housewares, décor, books, media, furniture, baby items, tools, electronics, linens,crafts, toys, etc.

Vapor Thrift is located at 5443 Highway 280 S., Birmingham, AL. 35242. Store hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

For more information, contact the store at (205) 639-1077.

Vapor Sports has a goal to build 40 centers in 40 slums in ten years. The next center, in Togo, started construction this summer.
“We invite people to join us—get involved in changing the slums and the third world,” says McElveen. “Life is a vapor. Don’t spend yours on the sideline.”
For additional information or photos, contact Micah McElveen, President, Vapor Sports Ministries at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 256.208.2060.

About Vapor Sports Ministries:

Vapor Sports Ministries is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian aid and opportunity for sustainable life change in third-world environments, primarily in Africa. Since 2006, Vapor Sports has created centers that use sports as a way to attract people, distribute aid and to build life-changing relationships. The centers are managed and sustained by indigenous residents and provide for specific local needs like providing clean water, food distribution, education, medical outreach or AIDS awareness and disease prevention. Vapor Sports sponsors a number of programs in the U.S. that help support the African mission, including mission trips and sponsorship opportunities.