About those woolen gloves that U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders wore to the presidential inauguration, causing endless peculiar memes on social media? They have helped raise $ 1.8 million over the past five days for charities in Sanders ’home state of Vermont, the independent senator announced Wednesday.
The sum comes from the sale of goods with the image of January 20th of him sitting with arms and legs crossed, dressed in his brown parka and recycled wool gloves.
Sanders put the first of the so-called “Chairman Sanders” merchandise, including T-shirts, sweatshirts and stickers, on his website Thursday night and the first run sold out in less than 30 minutes, he said. More merchandise was added over the weekend and sold out on Monday morning, he said.
“Jane and I were amazed at all the creativity shown by so many people over the past week and we’re glad we can use my fame on the Internet to help Vermonters who need it,” Sanders said in a written statement. “But even that amount of money doesn’t replace congressional action and I’ll do everything I can in Washington to make sure workers in Vermont and across the country get the relief they need in the midst of the worst crisis that we have”. I have faced it since the Great Depression. ”
Sanders ’gloves were made by Jen Ellis, a Vermont elementary school teacher who has a parallel business making recycled wool gloves. His inaugural appearance, which also includes the winter jacket made by Burton Snowboards, sparked countless memes from the photo taken by the Agence France-Presse: the former presidential candidate could be found on the lines of social media time taking a seat on the subway, the moon and the couch with the cast of “Friends,” among other creative scenarios.
Ellis told social media over the weekend that Sanders called to tell him that the “mittens frenzy” had raised a huge amount of money for Vermont charities, though she was not yet authorized to reveal the quantity.
“But it’s GREAT and it’s amazing! Thanks!! Generosity brings joy, “he tweeted.
He also said he made three more pairs of gloves and gave them to raise funds at Passion 4 Paws Vermont, Outright Vermont, and that he would auction a pair on eBay for his daughter’s college fund.
Groups that will benefit from the proceeds from the “Chairman Sanders” items include area agencies on aging to fund Meals on Wheels across Vermont, Vermont community action agencies, Feeding Chittenden, Vermont Parent Child Network , The Chill Foundation, centers for seniors in Vermont and Bistate Primary Care to improve dental care in the state, Sanders’ office said.
Sander’s suit has also sparked other charitable initiatives. A Sanders crochet doll with her clothes was auctioned online and Burton Snowboards donated 50 jackets to the Burlington Department of Children and Families on behalf of Sanders, according to his office.
Getty Images confirmed that it will donate its revenue as part of the license agreement to put the photo on the merchandise at Meals on Wheels of America.