Florida 'blizzard' apparel hits online racks for charity

You can make a fashion statement and help charity at the same time by picking up tongue-in-cheek shirts and hoodies commemorating Wednesday’s rare snowfall in Florida.

The limited-edition clothing brags, “I survived the blizzard of ‘18,” with ice-capped lettering, red and blue snowflakes and an outline of the state. Democratic political consultant Kevin Cate of Tallahassee started selling them Thursday on Cotton Bureau, a curated, online marketplace for custom-made tees.

“While I was shoveling the zero inches of snow from my driveway yesterday, I figured we needed a way to commemorate everything we’ve been through during the Blizzard of ‘18 — and what better way to do that than through a hilarious shirt for a good cause?” Cate said in an email.

Tallahassee got a tenth of an inch of snow, barely enough to make snowballs or tiny snowmen. But it was enough to qualify as the first measurable snowfall in the Capital City in nearly 30 years.

The clothing is available only through 8 p.m. Jan. 18. The price is $26 for T-shirts, $28 for tank tops and $39 for hoodies. All proceeds will benefit CESC, the parent organization of The Kearney Center, Westgate Community and The Dwellings, which serve homeless people.

“We will donate 100 percent of any profits ... to help keep vulnerable populations safe when it gets cold in Florida — the work they do is so important to the community,” he said.

The clothing can be purchased at http://www.cottonbureau.com/products/florida-blizzard-of-18.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.