LUDLOW, Mass. — FT Custom Printing and Embroidery Co-Owner Fams Taal is working on a specialty hat for a client out of his store in Ludlow.
What You Need To Know
- FT Custom Printing and Embroidery Co-Owner Fams Taal migrated to this country from Africa almost 20-years ago and began making custom t-shirts out of his home basement in Chicopee shortly after
- FT has a two storefronts in Ludow and Springfield, making several custom-made apparel designs from sweatshirts and jerseys to beanies and baseball caps
- Taal founded the non-profit Sam Taal Global Foundation in 2015 in memory of his late father and has been working on what he calls the ‘Tankul Village Health Center Project’ since
- The ongoing project is the construction of a 5,000 square foot health center that is expected to provide urgent care, telehealth services, as well as pharmaceutical services
It’s been a long journey for the man who migrated to the US from Africa almost 20 years ago and began making custom t-shirts out of his home basement in Chicopee shortly after.
“In 2015, I was working at the hospital as a respiratory therapist and got involved in the apparel, garment-making industry,” said Taal. “I enjoy printing [and] designing, which is what really inspired me to make shirts for my foundation.”
Taal’s business has continued to grow over time with a second storefront in Springfield.
Working with small businesses and agencies all over Western Massachusetts, making several custom-made apparel designs from sweatshirts and jerseys to beanies and baseball caps.
But Taal had another reason for starting his own business: to raise enough money to provide better medical care for his family back in Africa.
“We basically made custom apparel at the start of it for our non-profit efforts so we can generate the profit and funds to build a hospital in my home village in Gambia, West Africa,” he said. “In Tankular, Tankular Village in West Africa .”
Taal founded the non-profit Sam Taal Global Foundation in 2015 in memory of his late father and has been working on what he calls the ‘Tankul Village Health Center Project’ since.
“If someone is sick in Tankular with a critical illness, they have to travel and transport them about 150 miles away to get proper health care services,” he said. “Which is not up to health care standards itself.”
Taal said construction of the 5,000-square-foot building is well underway and if all goes well, the facility will provide urgent care, telehealth services, as well as pharmaceutical services.
It’s a tall order, but it’s a cause near and dear to his heart.
“Self-care is very important but if you can’t give it to your community,” he said. “If you can’t give to the people that are not you and are around you, to me, [then] life is pointless.”
Taal said if everything goes as planned, the health center should be completed by the end of the year. He says the non-profit is always looking for volunteers interested in providing support.