Bernie’s mittens are helping to raise money for local non-profits.
After U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders lit up social media with his practical winter attire during the presidential inauguration, Linden crafter Bunny Sutton made a crochet doll of the Vermont independent using a pattern she found online.
Along with the famous mitts, “Bern Man” sports Einstein-like hair and wears a tiny face mask — the secretive manila envelope tucked under his arm. Thousands of other crocheted Bernie dolls have popped up since the memes went viral.
“[Friends] were calling me and sending me messages [saying] ‘Bernie needs to go on an adventure’,” Sutton said.
Sutton and her friend Kasey Hoffman created the public Facebook group “Bernie’s Great Adventures” to raise funds for the Montgomery County Free Clinic and its Meals on Wheels program.
People are encouraged to post pictures of their Bernie doll on an outing and make a donation. A $1,000 fundraising goal has been set and the money will be split between the groups. Sutton is crocheting additional dolls.
“We are so fortunate to live in the community we do because there are always people who are generous and look out for others,” said Pat Stull, a local Meals on Wheels coordinator.
The organization delivers physician prescribed meals five days a week to nearly 65 older adults and other homebound people in Montgomery County.
More than 200 drivers take the meals to clients and other volunteers package the food and register clients. No additional workers are needed at this time, Stull said.
A Bernie doll created by a Texas woman brought in more than $20,000 for Meals on Wheels America. Sanders himself gave some of the money raised from the sale of merchandise with the famous image to the Vermont organization.
At the clinic, executive director Kay Nannet said the funds could go to benefit the patient emergency fund if that’s how the executive board decides to use the money.
“I just love the creativity and the sense of community that this project brings,” Nannet said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the fundraiser. To donate, go to www.gofundme.com and search Bern Man & Friends Free Clinic & Meals Fundraiser.
