Tom Fallon of Rumford shows a T-shirt he purchased this month at the Peru Fire Station to raise money for the United Methodist Committee on Relief, which is supporting Ukrainians in the war against Russia. Barbara Lane of Peru, left, owner of Hot Colors Screen Printing and Design in Norway, said she hoped her March fundraiser would bring in $10,000. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times
PERU — Seeing photos and videos of people fleeing and suffering in the war in Ukraine prompted businesswoman Barbara Lane to create and sell T-shirts to raise money for the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
The owner of Hot Colors Screen Printing and Design in Norway said she hoped her March fundraiser would bring in $10,000 to donate to the organization, which is helping Ukrainians.
The shirts are printed with an outline of the state of Maine in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The words “…and Maine said to Ukraine, We will pray for Peace” are printed beside it.
Lane said after she had an “an angel tap” she asked on Facebook if anyone knew of a reputable charity. With help from her pastor, Robin Chaput, of Rumford United Methodist Church, she decided to donate the proceeds to the United Methodist group.
Once the word was out, orders started coming in from Maine to West Virginia.
One person ordered a shirt that cost $20 plus shipping, but sent a check for $140.
“My gosh, the stories I have heard,” Lane said. “One guy over at Fryeburg Academy wanted to buy shirts because he was worried about two people living in Ukraine,” she said.
“Another bought a T-shirt because she had a cousin who adopted three Ukrainian children.”
She recalled someone in Sanford ordered T-shirts and requested they be shipped in time to wear to a bean supper.
“I’ve also had so many churches get in touch with me, saying they wanted to make the T-shirts available for their congregation, and order 25 or so,” Lane said.
“Almost to the person, people would say, ‘We wanted to do something, we didn’t know what to do.'”
Lane concluded her effort Sunday night.
“I really need to get back to printing things that pay my bills,” she said.
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