A handmade crocheted doll inspired by Sen’s viral inauguration meme. When it was sold at an online auction Tuesday, Bernie Sanders raised more than $40,000 for Meals on Wheels America.
The doll’s owner, Tobey King, put it up for sale on eBay, offering the charity 100 percent of the profits.
“I was talking with another crafter friend who told me Bernie had just sold some hoodies and donated all the proceeds to Meals on Wheels Vermont, and I knew that that is what I wanted to do with the doll I made,” said King, owner of Tobey Time Crochet.
“With the attention, it was getting I was hopeful Meals on Wheels would get a good donation.”
The starting bid for Saturday’s handmade doll was just 99 cents, but the item had 167 bids by Tuesday with a winning bid of $20,300. In a statement, an eBay spokesperson told CNN that King’s decision to donate the proceeds “inspired” it and that the company would match the winning offer to “help support even more people in need.”
That means more than $40,000 is the total earned from the auction.
The Sanders campaign store began selling sweatshirts last week with the picture that inspired the endless memes, and all the proceeds go to Meals on Wheels programs in Vermont, Sanders’ home state.
“Amid the pandemic, the demand for Meals on Wheels has skyrocketed as more vulnerable older adults find themselves homebound and in need of this vital lifeline,” said Young in a statement earlier this week. “The awareness for our cause is needed now more than ever, and on behalf of the entire nationwide network, we greatly appreciate the support.”
Much like the Sanders meme, when she posted pictures of her creation on social media, King’s concept and images of her handmade doll went viral last week. She told CNN it took her seven hours to crochet the 9-inch doll that was designed to sit down, and it included a small wooden bench.
As he ran for president in 2020, King, from Corpus Christi, Texas, patterned it off a previous doll she made of Sanders. This time, along with a blue felt facial mask, she added the now-famous brown and white knit mittens.
According to her website, the mother of two began crocheting when she quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom. Before deciding to try her hand at making a doll for her daughter, she began making scarves and dresses. Since then, King has created dolls influenced by popular people, from the singer Selena to the cast of “The Golden Girls.”
Source: CNN