There will be no frills, glittery sequins, or an unnecessary financial burden for the parents of youngsters attending Manumalo Baptist Church because every child enrolled in the Sunday school program will have a free white shirt to wear during White Sunday, when the little ones take the stage to perform Biblical memory verses, evangelical skits, and songs.
With the tight financial situation that most local residents are in, Manumalo Church officials have come up with a solution to help their members out this year. And that is, to provide free white shirts for all the Sunday school children.
All the shirts are the same so no child will feel left out and everyone will look the same.
"This is something they can wear during the week and throughout the year, not just for 30 minutes on White Sunday," said church official Papalii Laulii Alofa.
He explained that the goal of the 'freebie' is to change the 'landscape' and feel of White Sunday, so everyone — even parents — can enjoy the occasion without having to stress out about having to buy expensive white dresses for girls and suits for boys, things that they will most likely wear only one time.
Every year during White Sunday, sewing shops and department stores record a high number of sales and profit, thanks to parents who go far and beyond the call of duty, going out of their way to buy the fanciest white outfit money can buy, so their child can stand out.
However, those same outfits will only be worn on White Sunday and then placed in the back of the closet where they will sit and collect dust.
Parents of the estimated 100 children between 2 and 15 years old who are part of the Manumalo family are ecstatic that the money they have saved from having to buy white outfits can now be used to pay off some bills and buy groceries.
Pictured are some of the Manumalo Sunday School girls with their white shirts.
Samoa News management and staff wishes all the children of Tutuila and Manu'a a very Happy White Sunday.