Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was one of the most talked about people at President Biden’s inauguration with his bundled up appearance (mittens and winter coat made in Vermont, naturally). Sanders’s photo was turned into a meme that last on social media for several days.
Sanders quickly started selling merchandise, including an already sold-out sweatshirt, based on the meme to raise money for Vermont Meals on Wheels and other charities.
The senator spoke about the last few days during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“Not only are we having fun but what we are doing here in Vermont is we’re going to be selling around the country sweatshirts and t-shirts,” Sanders. “And with all the money that we’re going to be raising, which I expected is going to be a couple of million dollars, will be going to programs like Meals on Wheels and Feed low-income seniors.”
Shortly after the senator’s TV appearance, his campaign texted out a call for charitable donations which offered a free “Chairman Sanders” sticker to the first 1000 people to give.
“So, it turns out actually it’s a good thing, not only fun,” Sanders said on CNN.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity in the U.S. with as many as 30 million people homes not having enough to eat every day leading to President Biden issuing an executive order on Friday which included a 15% increase to food stamp benefits, among other things.
