Covid-19: Steve determined to fight pandemic with the return of the world’s smiles, one shirt at a time (VIDEO)
“While we wear face masks many of our facial gestures which contribute to our communication are hidden.”
It might not have been his intention, but Edenvale resident Steve Johnston has ‘travelled the world’ in a matter of days despite travel restrictions brought on by the pandemic.
The Hurlyvale resident went viral after he posted an image of himself wearing a face mask and a T-shirt which had a photograph of himself and the words, It’s me Steve, printed on it.
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By May 11, Steve’s Facebook post had been shared countless times while screen grabs posted online made it to the top rankings of Reddit, Bored Panda and 9gag.
It was originally posted on Facebook as a joke, but it caught people’s attention. The idea was born after he visited a store in town and recognised two of his friends, yet when he approached them they didn’t know who he was. “Only after I revealed who I was behind the mask did they recognise me.”
After going through this experience Steve made the T-shirt.
The decision to have a photograph of himself giving a big smile was not only to bring a smile to the face of others but to fight the virus which had taken the smiles away of those across the world.
“While we wear face masks many of our facial gestures which contribute to our communication are hidden.”
Steve thought his title was the punchline.
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Steve decided to partner up with a company in Fourways to produce more T-shirtss.
Proceeds from the sale of the It’s Me Steve T-shirts will be used to help people in need.
“Although we are still deciding on a charity, I would like to give back to the community I grew up in and help an organisation in Edenvale.”
To order a T-shirt visit www.itsmesteve.me
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