Bernie s much-memed mittens merch makes $1.8 million for charity
Image of Vermont senator clad in parka and hand-made wool gloves at Biden s inauguration has exploded into social media phenomenon, inspiring him to sell his own merchandise to raise money for good causes
Associated Press |
Published: 01.27.21 , 22:43
About those wooly mittens that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wore to the presidential inauguration, sparking endless quirky memes across social media? They’ve helped to raise $1.8 million in the last five days for charitable organizations in Sanders’ home state of Vermont, the independent senator announced Wednesday.
The sum comes from the sale of merchandise with the Jan. 20 Agence France-Presse image of him sitting with his arms and legs crossed, clad in his brown parka and recycled wool mittens.
According to Sanders s office, the proceeds will benefit Vermont organizations, including Meals on Wheels Vermont locations, Vermont community action agencies, the Chill Foundation, the Vermont Parent Child Network, Feeding Chittenden, some Vermont senior centers, and Bistate Primary Care for dental care improvements.
And it s not just Sanders who is using the viral moment for good. Getty Images will also donate the money it has made off the merchandise to Meals on Wheels of America and Burton Snowboards (the brand responsible for his famous brown parka) donated 50 jackets in Sanders s name Burlington Department for Children and Families, according to
Today.
And that s not even all. Jen Ellis, the teacher who made the iconic (and sustainable) mittens, made three more pairs of mittens to be donated to fundraise for Passion 4 Paws Vermont, Outright Vermont, and will auction off a pair on eBay for her daughter s college fund. A crocheted doll of Sanders in his parka and mittens was
Updated / Thursday, 28 Jan 2021
09:51
The image of Bernie Sanders sitting cross-legged in mittens launched a thousand internet memes
The inauguration day photograph of a mitten-clad, glamour-defying Bernie Sanders perhaps was not the most flattering image of the US senator, but it has become a remarkably charitable one.
The image launched a thousand memes and made the earnest two-time presidential candidate an internet star.
The 79-year-old politician from the north-eastern US state of Vermont announced this week that he has raised $1.8m (€1.5m) for charity over the past five days through sales of merchandise featuring him wearing the knitted mittens and a parka at US President Joe Biden s 20 January swearing-in.