After the success of the tuques they created, NWMRKTproud launched a t-shirt campaign to further support the Newmarket Food Pantry while giving residents of Newmarket the opportunity to show their support for Pride Month.
The sale of Pride t-shirts was part two of a grass-roots initiative created by friends Rebecca Gardiner and Joanne Sweers.
After several months donating food to the community fridge outside Newmarket Public Library, they were looking for a way to increase their impact.
Sweers said that knowing what a great and supportive community Newmarket is, they wanted to showcase that while drawing more people in to help feed their neighbours. Thus the NWMRKTproud initiative was created.
It started with tuques in the fall and winter months, with a free tuque for every $20 donation to the food pantry from December through the end of March, and they raised about $7,000.
“All the money, every penny, went back to the (food pantry),” said Sweers.
Then, the NWMKRTproud logo was adapted to promote Pride Month with the Pride t-shirt campaign being active throughout June.
“With the help of several businesses and individuals in the community, sponsorship meant that every $20 donation to the (food pantry) also received a free t-shirt with all the money going to the (food pantry),” said Sweers. “NWMRKTproud hosted a launch event at Market Brewery at the beginning of June, participated in the farmers market during the month, as well as the Pride festival and a golf tournament at the end of the month.”
In total, the Pride t-shirts raised about $18,000 and NWMRKTproud presented the ceremonial cheque for $25,324.43 Wednesday at Market Brewery to Newmarket Food Pantry’s Vesna Mitchell, which includes both their tuque and t-shirt campaign funds.
“We are so humbled by the support of our business community and all the great people of Newmarket who have donated and received tuques and t-shirts during our campaign,” said Sweers. “It takes a village and we are grateful to be part of this very caring village.”
