Bordentown City native Rebecca Collins had an idea to make merchandise, sell it and donate the proceeds to small businesses and people in the Bordentown community who are being affected by the coronavirus.
Collins showcases her creative talents as the owner of Carson Re-Creations, a store that features her own inspired designs on signs, t-shirts, pillows, glasses and more.
She brought her idea to Sarah McEwan, the owner of Mimosa Goods, a boutique that sells a variety of eco-friendly, handmade and fair trade products. Collins sells some of her items in McEwan’s store.
The two small business owners are a part of the Bordentown City Creative Team and brought Collins’ idea to the attention of team co-chair Sruti Desai.
Desai thought the idea was fantastic and the trio went straight to work to create the #BordentownStrong movement.
After creating and selling 239 items, the #BordentownStrong movement has brought people from the community together during these hard times.
“It really just took off,” Collins said. “I thought I’d only make 10-25 wooden signs and have made 143. We’re doing something great and giving back to the community.”
The movement started with Collins creating the #BordentownStrong logo on wooden signs and has grown to putting the logo on t-shirts and tote bags.
Collins said on April 21 that she has started adding the logo to pint/wine glasses, and will soon have them put on pillow cases and cutting boards.
McEwan has set up a page dedicated to the #BordentownStrong movement on the Mimosa Goods website.
On the website, local businesses or employees of local businesses in both Bordentown Township and Bordentown City can ask for a helping hand and request donations from the cause.
McEwan also has used her connections to find more local makers in the area to help with the movement.
Jamie Clugsten from Always in Stitches is one of those local makers who has joined the initiative, helping make close to 50 #BordentownStrong t-shirts that have been sold.
Desai has used the Bordentown City Creative Team’s social media platforms to promote the #BordentownStrong movement and get in contact with people in the community about how and where to receive orders.
Each #BordentownStrong product is personally delivered by Desai, McEwan and Collins.
Some of the proceeds from the movement are being put into a GoFundMe campaign, where the funds will be donated to businesses or employees in need. Each business or employee that applies for the funding will be reviewed by the #BordentownStrong team before being given any funding.
“Creating the GoFundMe page has helped us give back to businesses and employees that have suffered due to COVID-19,” Desai said. “This can help them pay for their rent, electric bills and other utilities.”
So far, the movement has raised $2,850 as of April 21 and has helped eight businesses/employees.
The movement has received 26 donations on the GoFundMe page thus far.
“The effort that we have seen from the community has been crazy,” Desai said.
Collins said she hopes to continue the #BordentownStrong movement as long as she can to help people in need and to get the town that she grew up in back on its feet.
“It’s really cool to walk around downtown and see your logo in the stores,” Collins said. “Bordentown is a small-knit community. You know the people that own businesses and restaurants in the town, so it makes this movement even more important to try and help those people. It feels great to be giving back to the community.”
For more information on the #BordentownStrong movement, visit www.mimosagoods.com/collections/bordentownstrong. To make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/f/bordentown-strong.
