Viral Bernie Sander’s Mittens to be Auctioned off for Good Cause

Jen Ellis, the woman behind the viral mittens of Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, is using her talent to give back to her community. First seen at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Ellis has since received over 13,000 email orders for her hand-crafted mittens.

Ellis, a 42-year-old elementary school teacher in Essex Junction, has embraced the attention of her handiwork. While teaching an online class on the day of the inauguration, her phone started to ping.  

The messages were all identical, Ellis said in an interview with WION News. “Bernie Sanders is wearing your mittens,” she said. 

Since the viral moment, Ellis has made several pairs of mittens to be auctioned off. 

“Thanks for all the interest in Bernie’s mittens! It truly has been an amazing and historic day!,” Jen Ellis wrote on Twitter. “I’m so flattered that Bernie wore them to the inauguration.” 

“I have heard your requests, and I am happy to tell you that I am making just a few more mittens today and tonight to be auctioned off for good causes,” Ellis wrote in another tweet

The proceeds of one set will go towards a dog rescue organization, Passion 4 Paws, in Vermont. As of this morning, 78 people had bid on them, with the highest offer of $1,776.

Ellis donated a  second pair to the Vermont-based LGBTQ+ youth service organization, Outright Vermont, and can be purchased through CharityAuctionsToday.com. Following the listing, 15 bids have been placed, with the highest topping $2,800.

In an interview with NPR, Ellis shared that she first gave the mittens to Sanders several years ago. Her daughter was attending a preschool owned-and-operated by Sanders’s daughter-in-law. Ellis decided to slip in an extra pair for Sanders while preparing holiday gifts for the teachers. 

The auction opened at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24, and closes Friday, Jan. 29 at 5:00 p.m.

Click here to bid on the pair benefiting Passion 4 Paws.

Click here to bid on the pair benefiting Outright VT.

Click here to bid on the pair for Ellis’ daughter’s college fund.

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