bread + butter team welcomes a new year of possibilities!

Hey friends, Sue here. Wow, it's 11:31pm and we are just getting home from a nice holiday dinner with some of my work colleagues. It was a great time, very relaxed with some good conversation and a ton of laughs. Laughing is awesome. It's probably the one thing that rejuvenates me the most.

It's hard to believe that it's New Year's Eve tomorrow. We are very excited to welcome a new year and we are confident that 2010 will bring even more opportunities and growth for the bread + butter brand. We are pleased with the progress we have made in our first four months. We are always so encouraged by our supporters and we are thrilled to be seeing more and more b & b products out there!

Remember, on January 1st we will unveil some new and exciting "limited time" designs that will be available during the month of January only. Stay tuned. More tomorrow. Time for mama to hit the hay. Night!

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts or visit our SHOP

7 Reasons You Should Own a Bread + Butter Shirt!

7. They are extremely hip and stylish (according to Katie who is an expert in matters of fashion)
6. They are great conversation starters at parties. What is bread + butter anyway? That's your cue to help spread the word.
5. You'll be a trend-setter. Soon all of the super cool people will be wearing bread + butter and you can say you were among the first.
4. Unlike Abercrombie and Hollister, which are loud and dark and have have murals of half-naked teenagers that scare me on the walls (it's Sue writing this one of course), the bread + butter e-store is bright and cheery with no offensive pictures.
3. They look and feel good, cover more of your body, and are more affordable than the aforementioned mall store shirts.
2. They come in cool colors like pomegranate and chocolate - good looking and yummy!
And the number one reason....

1. Every sale benefits food banks that help feed hungry Americans.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Bread + Butter Measures Hunger; New England Hungrier Than You'd Think

Hi everyone. It's Emma. Today, Dad and I found a map of New England states and researched the percentage of hunger in each one. The way they measure hunger is by food insecurity. We made a table that shows the percent of low and very low food security from highest to lowest; Maine is the hungriest in New England and Massachusetts is the least.


We also found out that the hungriest state in the US is Mississippi with 17.4%. The least hungry US state is North Dakota with 6.9%. You can find more information about food insecurity in America on the USDA website.

toodles!!!!!!


Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Bread + Butter Junior Cap Sleeve Tees for Under $20...Seriously?

Why not ring in the New Year wearing a stylish bread + butter junior cap sleeve tee? We just SLASHED the price on one of our BEST-SELLING ITEMS to under $20! But only until January 3rd so don't wait. Remember that when you buy a bread + butter tee, you are helping to fight hunger in your own community and beyond. So feel good about making a difference through our brand and still get a very cool shirt that will be a great conversation piece. Help us spread the word: Buy a shirt, feed a family.

Random question of the day: Which bread + butter team member can hula hoop while playing the flute?

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Organic Hoodies all the Rage...but Supplies are Limited!

Like the bread + butter women's organic long-sleeve hooded T-shirt? Better act fast, because this item is being discontinued, sizes are limited, and they won't be available after January 5. It comes in two color combinations (blue with yellow logo or cream with magenta logo) and is available at the strange price of $22.33. One additional warning: The navy and light blue versions of the similar, and even more popular, junior's long sleeve hooded T-shirt are also being discontinued! The other colors are staying, but if you want a blue one, now is the time to order.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

A cool surprise on Christmas

Guess what? On Christmas, Uncle Jeff came to our house and googled bread and butter, and we found out that we are featured on the Girls' Life website, which is huge! Check it out. How cool is that? We've also just been added to Share Our Strength's blogger community list, which we hope will drive more traffic to our website - and more sales.

Don't forget to send us your photos wearing bread + butter to win a free shirt (see yesterday's post for details), and get ready for the bread + butter post-holiday sale. We haven't figured out what it will be yet, but stay tuned for more details.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

bread + butter under the tree?

Merry Christmas, bread + butter followers and fans! Did you find a bread + butter sweatshirt under your Christmas Tree this year? Did Santa stuff one of our cap sleeve T's in your stocking? Did you get one of our fleece scarves for Hanukkah? As you know we love posting pictures of our customers wearing bread + butter apparel. Email your pics to us at info@breadandbutterproject.com. We'll post them on our blog under our 'get your bread + butter on' feature. The 5th person to send us a picture will receive a free short or long sleeve bread + butter T-shirt of their choice, so be sure to include a return email address!

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Chirstmas Eve & Countdown to End Hunger

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!! Good news, Katie is feeling better so we are on the upswing. Just in time for the festivities. We are heading to a party at our neighbors after church tonight. Then the gang comes to us tomorrow. The girls are so excited. I love seeing the holiday through their eyes. Warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. Enjoy!!

A group of generous donors in Rhode Island is helping one of our nonprofit food bank partners this holiday season by creating the End Hunger Challenge Fund.
Now through December 31, the End Hunger Challenge will match gifts to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank - up to a total of $25,000. What a great way to make a difference. Did you know that each month, more than 50,000 people in Rhode Island need help getting food. Of these people, nearly one-third are children. That’s almost 14,000 kids. You can also help Rhode Island Community Food Bank reach its goal of collecting 250,000 pounds of food by the end of December as part of the holiday meal drive. They've already collected more than 185,000 pounds! Find out more on their website.

And remember, all bread + butter project sales from November 2009 through March 2010 will benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and our other nonprofit food bank partners throughout New England.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Poor Katie!

Hey b & b fans, it's Sue. As I sit to write to you I realize that it is now just two days until Christmas. Emma is absolutely off-the-walls excited. She has been bouncing out of bed every morning, frantically doing the countdown. "Tomorrow is Christmas Eve Eve, Mom!" (in my face, at 6am) Katie has been sidelined with a bad case of strep throat and tonsils the size of golf balls. Our poor baby is on antiobiotics but still feeling pretty miserable. We are crossing our fingers that she turns a corner tonight since she's been on the medication for 48 hours now. I hate to see my kids sick, as does every parent. At least we are not traveling since we host Christmas. We'll keep you posted.

The rest of us are well except that I am still in a state of disbelief that another birthday has come and gone. How can I be 45? Seems hard to imagine but you can't argue the numbers. I thought I would take this opportunity to share a column I wrote last year about the merry event. (I am a freelance columnist in what little spare time I have!) Click here to read.

The orders for bread + butter products have been great these past couple of months, thank you to all who have supported us. Please remember that the need continues well after the holidays are over. Keep spreading the word about us!

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

It's Better to Give Than Receive

Just in time for Christmas, we found this inspirational story on the Good Shepherd Food-Bank's website. 7 year-old Sophia received a letter from the Food-Bank, asking for her help in feeding the hungry children in Maine, and when her parents got home from work she told them that she wanted to give $50 to the Food-Bank. Her parents explained that $50 was a lot of money but Sophia insisted. Sophia had been saving her money for a toy that she wanted but decided that she would rather help feed the hungry children. Way to go Sophia! You're making a difference and setting a great example for other kids. Find more good news - and ways to help - on the Good Shepherd Food-Bank's website.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Get Ready for Super Hunger Month

With only a few weeks left in December, it's time to start planning for the new year, and we hope that you'll make the Greater Boston Food Bank's Super Hunger Month part of your new year's plans. Every January, restaurants from the greater Boston community come together to fight hunger in a menu of ways. Through the Super Hunger Chef Challenge, Super Hunger Online Auction and Super Hunger Brunch you too can join in the fight against hunger in our community. Or you can create a Super Hunger on Your Own event to support the Food Bank. Find out more at the Super Hunger Month website. And remember, all bread + butter project sales from November 2009 through March 2010 will benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank and our other nonprofit partners throughout New England.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

A few of our favorite comments

Since launching the bread + butter project in August, we've received lots of positive comments from customers and visitors to our blog. Today, we'd like to share a few of them with you. In no particular order, here they are:

"I think you girls are doing something pretty remarkable. Keep up the good work."

"i LUUUUUUUUUUUV the new products! so many awesome colors!!!!!!"

"It has been amazing following your blog and the progress Bread & Butter has made. Sue,you & Tom must be so proud. Wishing you continued success!"

"We are excited to be part of such a fantastic project! Thank you for thinking of us and for your incredible dedication in the fight to end hunger."

"I think this is a great idea! And I love that the whole family is involved. I look forward to seeing it grow and prosper over the year."

"I always look forward to reading my daily Bread and Butter project posting! When I do I like to play a game to figure out if I can tell who the author is. Usually the girls announce themselves, but Sue and Tom not so much! I was absolutely sure Sue had written today's comments. But I was clearly wrong. Nice job guys!"

"Hi Guys, I just got my shirt. It is exactly what I wanted ...size and color. Well, let's be honest it is not the size I wanted, but size 2 wouldn't fit. LOL It is so comfy. I have recently heard that food pantries need cash more than canned goods. They can use the cash to get better deals i.e. whole sale prices where we can't get as good a deal. A cash gift goes farther. So you guys are on the right track."

"Hi O'Rourke Family, So great to see that all of you are working together as a family. You have inspired me!! Love the quality of the t-shirts. I ordered the long-sleeve and love it!! Love the Emma and Katie stick figure logo."

"What an awesome idea!!! I think you will inspire many to do something good for someone else! A great way to pay it forward!! Much luck to all of you!"

And one of our most recent comments: "...Oh, I could go on Katie...but then I would be rambling and boring all those who read your comments. Somehow, though, I don't think I would bore them, because I bet they think you are pretty wonderful too. However, just to be on the safe side, I'll stop... You and Emma have made the world a better place and I thank you for that... Keep up the good work. I'll continue to support this worthy cause, so that means I will be doing it for years to come. As far as I can see, this is going to be around for quite a while."

Have something you'd like to say? Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Making News in New Hampshire

As promised, we are posting a link to the girls' interview on WMUR-TV yesterday. They did a great job and are becoming seasoned spokespersons for the bread + butter project. Thanks to everyone at channel 9 for helping us promote our work, and to everyone in New Hampshire who has visited our site and purchased one of our products since this story ran last night. We've seen a big spike in visits to our blog in the past 24 hours, and we hope that many of our visitors will become fans of the bread + butter project on facebook or find a way to help us spread the word. Remember, when you buy bread + butter, you help feed the hungry, when you wear bread + butter, you show that you care. When you share bread + butter, you help raise awareness.

Have a question? Check out our FAQs. Want to see our clothing line?
VISIT OUR SHOP! Meet the bread + butter project team: Tom, Sue, Katie and Emma.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

A Good Day

Today the girls taped an interview for WMUR, the ABC affiliate in Manchester, NH and did a great job. We should be able to post that video clip tomorrow so check back!! We ended the day having dinner with some great friends of ours - there were 5 families and we all have girls so there are 11 girls in all. Yup, pure madness but fun. A big snowstorm on the way for tomorrow. Hard to say if we'll get a dusting or several feet. Gotta love New England!! We'll post more in the AM. Bedtime!
~Sue
Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

LAST OF ALL LAST CHANCES!!!!

Greetings fellows of the earth,
Just for the record... I know, the picture is gorgeous!! Anyway since I'm sure you are just begging to know what Katie the inquisitive is here to tell you, I won't strain you any longer. So guess what? Tommorow is in fact the last and last of all last days to get a fantabulous B&B shirt (via standard shipping) here before CHRISTMAS!! THAT'S DECEMBER 17TH - GOT IT? So don't drag yourself and go through all the trouble of going to Abercrombie or Aeropostale... simply click the distressed hoodie and you are done. Simple as that.
HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Please ignore the Aeropostale sweatshirt I'm wearing in the picture, it's before we created the B&B distressed hoodie. GOSH ease up would ya!!

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Get your bread + butter on at the Golden Gate!

Despite our current focus on helping food banks in New England, these happy customers show that bread + butter has national appeal. Nice sweatshirts, ladies! We love seeing pictures of people wearing our products. Send us your favorites and we'll be happy to post them on our blog. Want to see more happy customers? Just enter the words 'get your bread + butter on' into the search box at the bottom of the right-hand column. And don't forget to order your bread + butter holiday gifts by December 17 in order to ensure delivery in time for Christmas!

Random question of the day: Do any of our followers in Massachusetts read Parents and Kids Magazine? We were interviewed for a story and believe it is running in the December hard-copy edition, but haven't seen it yet, as it is not available in our immediate area. We'd love to see the article, so let us know if you've seen it. You can find complimentary copies of Parents and Kids Magazine at hundreds of locations (mainly south and west of Boston). Thanks for your help!

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

You say tomato, I say tom-ah-to

We're turning our attention to the Granite State this week, and focusing our efforts on how we can help the NH Food Bank - as well as our other New England partners - not only in December, but over the next several months. Did you know that NH Food Bank is calling December Canned Tomato Month? That means, you can host your own food drive, with a focus on canned tomato products, and help thousands of people in need. Don't have time to pull together a food drive of your own? Find more ways to support NH Food Bank on their website, or purchase a bread + butter product from now through the end of March 2010. And, stay tuned to WMUR-TV later this week for an interview with Katie and Emma, where you can learn more about the bread + butter project's partnership with this great organization.

Random question of the day: In which NH town did bread + butter project team members, Tom and Sue live from 1996 - 2003? Use the "comments" feature below to register your guess. Visit our SHOP

SPECIAL9

Now through Tues (12/15) - Use code SPECIAL9 at checkout and get 20% off your order of $35 or more! Shop, save, feed a family. Cool!

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Never finished!

Every year I think I'm finished with my Christmas shopping and every year there are about a hundred little gifts that I leave until the end that wind up taking up the majority of my time and budget. Does that happen to you? Yankee swaps, hostess gifts, Secret Santa, and on and on. So off I go again today to "finish" up. One great advantage about shopping this year thought has been the opportunity to give a bread + butter product because we feel so strongly about what our brand stands for and we are proud of how far we have come. The orders are still coming in steadily and our women's long-sleeve organic tee and junior's distressed hoodie are leading the way in terms of popularity. We'll keep you posted.

Guess what? Another TV station is interested in interviewing the girls! This time in New Hampshire. We are so thrilled to give the NH Food Bank a little extra exposure and hope that no matter what state you live in, you'll consider bread + butter as a gift or for yourself - knowing that it will help feed some families.

Kids are off to a party tonight so Tom and I get a few hours for a little date night. A nice treat this time of year when we are all so crazed. I hope you are all having a great weekend. Good luck with the decorating, shopping, baking, etc. Don't forget to check back with us as often as you can.

~Sue

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Katie's longest post ever - Raise your voices!

Hi all,

For the past 24 hours, I've realized what a privilege it is to have a voice. In our school, we have a program called the VOW OF SILENCE. We do this to raise awareness for the children in India, who don't have a voice. Not literally, but if these child laborers accidentally say one negative thing about laboring or complain, they are beaten or severely hurt. For example, in some cases, a man comes to your village and promises to take your child, feed them, give them an education (which many children don't have) and give your family $12 dollars. Then they basically give you none of what they promised, very little food, hide you in a terrible conditioned factory, and the smaller your fingers are, the longer you are useful to them. On top of that, you are chained to your machine, beaten if you make a mistake. No stretch time whatsoever.

In the book I’m reading, a boy named Iqbal escaped from this when he was 10, and by the time he was 12, he was only as tall and weighed as much as a normal 6 year-old – half the size he should be. He learned 6 years of schooling in 2 years in America. Before he escaped to America, he started parades in Pakistan and started telling people what was really happening to many children. Some police officers would go to inspect factories to inspect for child labor, but were threatened, or bribed with money, to cover it up. Some families would still sell one child, even if they knew they were to be labored because they were so poor. The children in his 6th grade classroom asked Iqbal’s why he would go back if he knew he was in danger, and he said, "Because I have to finish what I started." when he returned to Pakistan, he continued to tell stories about his years of child laboring, beginning at the age of 4. But some people found out, and before he could tell anyone else, he was shot in front of his grandmother’s house. This still goes on today, and if you think it's hard not to speak for a day, some children are at risk of their lives if they speak in their country.

Through my school’s project, the money collected will go to a center in India that gives children their voices back. If you are as bothered by this as I am, please think about what you can do to help.

If you’d like to take action and help hungry Americans right here in New England, please consider buying one of our products so that you can make a difference closer to home.

Loose your voice for a day and let a child speak for a lifetime. If you have a voice, think carefully about how you use it.

-Katie

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

The sound of silence

It's quiet tonight in the bread + butter project household. One of our more vocal team members is out with friends, celebrating her birthday (29 again), and another is taking a vow of silence. Tune in tomorrow for more news on that. In the meantime, peruse our streamlined product line, and see who on your holiday shopping list might be a good match for bread + butter.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

What does it look like to make a real difference?

Here is a picture that we think illustrates what we're all about at bread + butter - working together as a family to help hungry people, develop a sustainable business model, and find out what it takes to make a real difference. This photo was taken on the day before Thanksgiving, when we delivered our first contribution to our first nonprofit partner, Pettengill House, Inc. in Salisbury, MA. What a great day! Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

A poetic response

An anonymous reader (and writer) responded to our post below with the following:

Emma Emma is the bread,
Helping people to be fed.
Hunger Hunger everywhere,
Help show that you care.
Bread + Butter you should wear!!

Nice work, Anonymous. We like it!

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

We Finally Hear from Emma!

Hi everyone it's me Emma. I just wrote this poem about bread + butter for the site. I hope you like it.

Buy
Reach out
End up helping
Add it to your Christmas list
Do something
+help out
Boys and girls
U can do it!
Take action
T-shirts
Emma, Katie, Tom, and Sue's project
Rock on!

p.s. bread + butter clothes are great as Christmas gifts.

Check out the poem I wrote about our first partner, Pettengill House, Inc. Use the comment feature below to submit one of your own, using the word HUNGER, and we'll post our favorites.

Click "comments" below to add your thoughts or visit our SHOP

Take 20% off Toddler Hooded Sweatshirts - and more!

What's cuter than this sweatshirt? It comes in a bunch of cool colors for your little boys and girls. And, we're running a promotion through December 15 that will allow you to take 20% off these sweatshirts and other bread + butter products when you place an order totaling $35 or more. How does it work? Simply place the items you want to buy in your shopping cart. Make sure the total is $35 or greater, and then add one of the following items and related coupon code when you process your order:

Add a Kid's Long Sleeve T and use code 12DAYS1
Add a Kid's Apron and use code 12DAYS2
Add a Junior's AA Long Sleeve Hooded T and use code 12DAYS3
Add a Messenger Bag and use code 12DAYS4
Add a Jersey Scarf and use code 12DAYS5
Add a Men's, Women's, Kid's or Toddler Hooded Sweatshirt and use code 12DAYS7
Add a Men's AA Long Sleeve T and use code 12DAYS9

It's that easy, and it will make your toddlers merry and bright this holiday season.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Buy my boxers, while you still can!

As we continue to refine our product line-up, we're thinking about retiring the bread + butter boxers. Since we first introduced them in September (read that post), they haven't exactly been a top seller, but I really like them and still believe they could take off. Sue says they must go. What do you think? The red ones would be great for Valentine's Day, right? If you agree with me, act now. I think I am losing this battle.

-Tom

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

What's product rationalization, Dad?

As the title of this post suggests, I need to use simpler language when talking with Katie and Emma about our business. Sue says it better. "We have too many things in our shop; people get overwhelmed and leave the site without ordering." I think she's right, and so do some of our current and potential customers. This morning, we reduced our total number of products from 168 to 131, and at the same time added some new ones, including men's sweatshirts. Don't worry. You can still find many of your favorites. For those customers who know what they're looking for, but don't know where to find it, we suggest using the pull-down menu that appears at the top of our e-store under the shop tab. It will allow you to sort all of the products by category: men, women, kids and babies, etc.

Now for some really exciting news. We're running a promotion through December 15 that will allow you to take 20% off of some of our most popular products when you place an order of $35 or more. How does it work? Simply place the items you want to buy in your shopping cart. Make sure the total is $35 or greater, and then add one of the following items and enter the related coupon code when you process your order:

Add a Kid's Long Sleeve T and use coupon code 12DAYS1
Add a Kid's Apron and use coupon code 12DAYS2
Add a Junior's AA Long Sleeve Hooded T and use coupon code 12DAYS3
Add a Messenger Bag and use coupon code 12DAYS4
Add a Jersey Scarf and use coupon code 12DAYS5
Add a Men's, Women's, Kid's or Toddler Hooded Sweatshirt and use coupon code 12DAYS7
Add a Men's AA Long Sleeve T and use coupon code 12DAYS9

Find them all in our newly 'rationalized' SHOP. Only one coupon code can be applied with each order.

-Tom

Best Sellers, Birthdays and...(ahem) Busted!

Good morning everyone and thanks to Taylor S. for kicking us in the bum and bringing to our attention that we didn't blog yesterday - although we kind of sort of were counting the Fox clip as a blog but no excuses. Here I am (It's Sue) at 6:30 on a Saturday morning writing to all of you who are kind enough to support our project and who are good enough to check in with us every day. We now have hundreds of folks visiting us from ALL OVER THE WORLD! Welcome to b & b fans in Germany, Belguim, Mexico, U.K. and Malaysia - glad to have you on board!!

The orders have been coming in very quickly these last few days which means larger checks for our food pantry partners. Again, we are reviewing the most popular products and will retire some of our others (but not before we give you the chance to order), other products will be available on a limited time basis and our best sellers will stay put. Currently our best sellers are:

Women's Organic Long Sleeve Hooded Tee
Adult Tie Dye Tee
Kids Long Sleeve Tee
Women's Long Sleeve Tee
Junior Distressed Hoodie Sweatshirt

A busy weekend here at b & b headquarters. Katie is performing in "The 12 Days of Christmas," Emma is going to a birthday party for her friend Olivia - Happy Birthday honey! (My birthday is this month as well!) In between all that, we need to answer emails, check on orders, and field requests to have our two new stars appear on some other television programs. Ah, then there is finishing the Christmas shopping and I haven't yet ordered our holiday cards. Nothing much to do. Oh, we are going to get our first SNOW fall here in the Boston area today!! Enjoy your Saturday and don't forget to visit our shop!

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

An important milestone

At a recent communications industry seminar on social media, I learned that most blogs are abandoned and put to death by their creators after only 3 months. Having launched the bread + butter project (including our blog and e-store) in mid-August, we now have more than 3 months under our belt, and are still going strong. Has it been a challenge to keep up with the commitment of providing new content each day? Yes. Are we still excited and motivated by our mission? You bet. As Sue mentioned in her last post, we're also working to understand how additional tools like Twitter and facebook can strengthen our efforts.

For those of you who are new to our blog, we hope you'll check out some of things we've tried and written about over the past 3+ months in our archives. We also hope you'll offer us suggestions on the blog and the e-store.

On the e-store, some of our followers have suggested that we actually have too many products, and that we should remove some of them. We're taking this advice to heart, and are considering retiring a number of items and introducing new products on a seasonal basis. Does that sound right to you? Please let us know what you think. And if there is an item you've been thinking about ordering, now is a good time to act. It may not be there tomorrow. Check out all of the products in our e-store, and use the pull-down menu under the shop tab at the top of the page to sort by category (men, women, kids, accessories, etc.) We also invite newcomers to get to know the bread + butter project team: Tom, Sue, Katie and Emma.

-Tom

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Tweeting and TVing!

Hi everyone. Happy Wednesday. I'm feeling a little pressed for time these days as there are so many things we want to do to promote the bread + butter project but our jobs and school and everyday life seem too often to get in the way!

I think TWITTER will be a great tool for us to get quick updates out to our fans in addition to our posts. We just signed up so click the "follow us" button at right and become a b & b follower. We'd also appreciate you retweeting any updates to your followers so we can reach as many people as possible. Thanks!

Katie and Emma are VERY excited about their appearance on Fox 25 Morning News here in Boston tomorrow morning at 8:35am. If you don't live in this area, we'll post a link to the segment once it's online. We did some practice runs last night and some role playing. I think they are pretty prepared - it's amazing how easily they can speak about the project and our mission. I think their passion comes through. I can't wait to see them in action!!

Don't forget to order your bread + butter products by TOMORROW latest to take advantage of our 25% off sale on purchases of $40 or more. Use promo code CYBER49.

Enjoy the rest of your day. After work, I'll be at a tech rehearsal with Katie. She is performing in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" this weekend. Busy. Busy. More later.
~Sue
Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Back by Popular Demand

Hello b & b fans,

I wish I could say that I'm back by popular demand (since bread + butter aka Katie & Emma are still asnooze in their warm beds) but alas, it is our 25% off sale. It has been so popular that we have decided to extend it through this THURSDAY. Imagine being able to make a difference in someone's life simply by buying a shirt. You really can. Just make a minimum purchase of $40 and voila - you've crossed something off that holiday list AND done something remarkably kind. Beginning today, please use promo code CYBER49 to receive your discounted price.

I'm back to work today but feeling so good since this project has really taken shape over these last couple of weeks. Thank you. You have all been a large part of that and we hope you will check in every day to follow our progress!

Our next goal is to make a fun music video to put on youtube and on our web site so we can continue to spread the word and reach new audiences. We are not the most technically savvy family so this will be a challenge. Anyone who is interested in donating their expertise and lives in the Boston area, contact us at info@breadandbutterproject.com.

I can smell Christmas this morning in my house (it may be due to our GIANT 12-foot Rockafeller tree that Tom insisted on!). The girls are excited to start their advent calendars. It's amazing how happy these tiny little chocolates make them. It's sort of like when the kids enjoy the $3 puzzle you got at Target more than the $300 Barbie jeep on Christmas morning. Hard to figure.

Wait, she's here everyone. It's Katie!!! Hi katie here, I just wanted to let you know that you can see what has been going on at the North Pole and what Santa has been working on, additionally you can see how many, days, hours, minutes, and seconds there are left until Christmas. So to get into the Christmas spirit visit www.noradsanta.org and a new Christmas game will be unlocked every day that's related to what Santa's doing that day. So check it out and go under the kids countdown for endless fun until Christmas!

Enjoy your Tuesday and do something remarkable today.
~Your crazy bread + butter team.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

It's Cyyyyyyyber Monday!!

Hey b & b fans...
Yes, it's Cyber Monday, and what does that mean? Well, nothing unless you take advantage of all the great deals on the net today. Remember this is the LAST day to enjoy 25% off bread + butter products with a minimum order of $40. Just use CYBER39 at checkout. Hint: tweens and teens LOVE the distressed hoodie. And most importantly, every sale benefits food banks who are in desperate need with the increased number of people who need assistance.

So, it's Monday and that means back to school and work after a long weekend for most of us. I have to say that since I work Tues-Thurs there is a part of me that hears a choir of angels singing as the bus pulls away. I love having my house to myself, even though I have to clean it, do laundry, run errands and pick up all the leftover Christmas boxes strewn about.

Did I mention I'm having trouble walking up the stairs today? Yeah, thought I'd be a hero and run rather than walk on the treadmill yesterday. That's working out well for me.

We have a television interview with FOX on Thursday so we need to prep the kids - they will be the only ones interviewed since this project was their inspiration. They are excited, especially since they will miss the first couple of hours of school. Hey, kids will be kids. And by the way, isn't it there turn to blog???? Good thing they're so damn cute.

More tomorrow of course. And hey, comment or write to us...won't you? We love hearing from you. info@breadandbutterproject.com or just click the green "comments below. Visit our SHOP

We've got organics

We've added a number of new organic products, including women's fitted tees in several new color combos just in time for holiday shopping. Check out the new items on the first page of our SHOP

pine, parade, planet fitness...

Good morning b & b fans, it's Sue again on a sunny Sunday morning.

All is fairly quiet here at the O'Rourke household. Katie, our 12-year-old is still sleeping of course as she has adopted the sleep patterns of a teenager. Yeah, already. Emma, our 10-year-old is up and kicking, already bouncing off the walls. We put up our tree yesterday and began decorating the house so it was so awesome to walk downstairs and smell the pine. I love nothing better than to put on the lights in the early morning and read the Sunday paper over that first cup of coffee, which by the way, always tastes better than any subsequent cups, why is that?

Today I plan to go shopping with a good friend of mine and then we are off to the Santa parade and tree lighting here in Newburyport, MA. Like I said in yesterday's post, I'm feeling it this year. I think the combo of the b & b project and a close call with breast cancer earlier in the year have given me a bit of a wake up call. A much needed one by the way. First, I must go to the gym even though I don't have a single exercise gene in my entire body. I wish that could be wrapped up like a gift but I don't think it works that way. Must muster up the energy and make myself go, it's definitely a struggle. Tom, on the other hand, works out about 6 times a week and enjoys it. All I can say to that is...really? Really?

Oh, I posted one of my favorite pictures of our family in NYC last year after the Macy's parade. Okay,off to Planet Fitness (groan). Don't forget to order some b & b products to support our cause if you can. The 25% off sale ends TOMORROW!! Enter coupon code CYBER39 November 27 - 30 to get 25% off of your order. Or, get free shipping on all orders of $50 or more when you enter coupon code FREESHIP1.

Will have the girls weigh in tomorrow. Enjoy your day!!

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

bread + butter igniting my spirit

Hey all you new bread + butter followers - WELCOME!!

We had the most hits to date on our Web site yesterday and we are thrilled. Welcome aboard Kentucky, Kansas, Montana, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, Indiana and Tennessee. We are glad to have you!! Internationally, we have new fans from Hong Kong, Spain, Singapore and Canada. We appreciate every single one of you and know you will help us spread the word in our fight against hunger.

Today, the bread + butter team is heading out to get our Christmas tree. We go to a great local farm and cut it down ourselves which is really fun. Tom is always obsessed with getting the biggest tree he can find (this year we are shooting for a 12.5 footer) so he is our Clark Griswald for the day!!

I am really feeling the holiday spririt this year more than I have in several years. I think this project has helped me to focus a little more on the big picture and what's really important rather than the things that normally sap the energy out of me. I have vowed not to worry so much about how the gifts are wrapped (I'm going to let Katie and Emma wrap most of them this year) or when I get my holiday cards out and just relax a little more. Please know that relaxing does not come easy to me so this will be a challenge.

Okay, time to head out. We are thinking of creating a bread + butter music video to help spread the word. Any song suggestions for us? Enjoy your Saturday. More tomorrow.
~Sue

ps. Remember that you can get 25% off your bread + butter order ($40 min) through Monday!!

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Forget Black Friday - buy bread + butter instead

If you're thinking about which of the silly deals you might take advantage of on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I would like to encourage you to sleep in, spend a few more meaningful moments with your family members, and buy bread + butter instead. We're available 24 hours a day. No early morning discounts are necessary. And, you can give a gift with purpose when you visit our store. In the bread + butter household, we get up early every day of the week. Why not take the morning off? Do you need an excuse to start shopping before the sun comes up, or are you just falling victim to the frenzy of early morning price breaks? Pardon me for saying so, but I don't want to see any of you at 4AM at Kohl's or Walmart.

We're offering our customers two ways to save during the long holiday weekend. Take 25% off all orders of $40 or more when you enter coupon code CYBER39 November 27 - 30. And, get free shipping on all orders of $50 or more when you enter coupon code FREESHIP1.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Making Headlines in the Herald

Check out a great photo of Sue, Katie and Emma and a story about our donation to our first nonprofit partner, Pettengill House, Inc. in today's Boston Herald.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

A Thanksgiving Salute to our Partners

Today, in addition to being thankful for our health, our family, our jobs, and good friends, the bread + butter project team is giving thanks for the work of our partners: Connecticut Food Bank, Good Shepherd Food-Bank, Greater Boston Food Bank, New Hampshire Food Bank, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and Vermont Foodbank. Each of these important organizations is doing its part to help hungry people throughout New England - not just on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year. While turkey drives generate lots of press coverage around the holidays, the need to support food pantries and food banks is year-round. In fact, the need for donations is greater following the holidays, and in the summer months. And, as generous grocery stores, which provide the largest amount of food donations to food banks, become more efficient with their inventory systems, the amount of food available for donation shrinks. Accordingly, the need to support food banks with cash donations becomes more important. You can find the latest report on hunger in America at FeedingAmerica.org.

As you sit down to enjoy your Thansgiving meal, we hope you will consider supporting our partners with a financial contribution this year. And remember, the bread + butter project is sharing 50% of our profits from November 2009 - March 2010 with these great organizations. Our products make great gifts and help raise awareness about hunger in our community and across the country. And we're offering our customers two ways to save during the long holiday weekend. Take 25% off all orders of $40 or more when you enter coupon code CYBER39 November 27 - 30. And, get free shipping on all orders of $50 or more when you enter coupon code FREESHIP1.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

bread + butter + billy

We had a very full day today, beginning with our sponsorship of the Kiss 108 Turkey Toss at the Kiss studio in Medford, MA. In between frozen turkey hurls, the girls got a chance to catch up with Matty and other members of the Matty in the Morning show crew. Here is a photo of Katie and Emma with our old friend Billy Costa. You can see more photos of the event and a video on the Kiss website. Check back over the next few days for photos of our visit to Pettengill House, and don't forget to pick up a copy of the Boston Herald tomorrow. I think you might see some familiar faces. Have a great night and a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Setting the alarm for 4am...just like old days.

Hey fans,
Tomorrow is a big day for the bread + butter team. We are gettin up at 4am - yes, you read that right - to get to KISS 108 for the turkey toss. Because we are sponsors, we will have a table with sample products and be giving some great stuff away. (If you don't live in Boston, listen for our mentions online at www.kiss108.com) From there, we are headed to Pettengill House in Salisbury MA to present our first check for $350 to this deserving organization. We are fortunate that the Boston Herald is sending a photographer and will write about the project in the Thanksgiving issue. Finally, and they say things happen in threes, we will be on Fox 25 Morning News here in Boston on December 3rd at 8:35am. Phew, what a fantastic ride. All I can say is Wow. I mean wow.

Since we are hosting Thanksgiving, this will be a busy next few days but we are excited because things are definitely moving. Okay, it's already 6pm and I need to figure out what to make for dinner so it's time for me to sign off. If I can ever figure out how to embed and mp3 file into this web site, I will post our radio commerical so those of you who don't live in this market can hear it. I tried for 3 hours last night to no avail. That tells you a little about my computer skills. If anyone can help, let me know.

Have a great night. Remember to be thankful for the food on your table. Oh, I will post some pictures from the turkey toss tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

b+b is for toddlers too

In case you think we're only interested in juniors, here is proof that toddlers get equal representation at bread + butter. We have long sleeve T-shirts for your little guys in a bunch of colors in 2T and 4T. We also have sweatshirts that will keep your little ones warm and cozy this fall. Select 'kids and babies' under the pull-down menu under the shop tab in our e-store to see more great stuff for your younger boys and girls. Choose 'men' or 'women' to find products for adults. What's your favorite bread + butter product? Use the green 'comment' feature below to let us know.

bread + butter - Spread it!

Emma and Katie created this video to promote the bread + butter project. How will you help spread the word? Use the comment feature to let us know. Thanks in advance for your help!



Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

On making a real difference

At bread + butter, we're working together as a family to help hungry people, develop a sustainable business model and find out what it takes to make a real difference. Last week, I wrote about working together as a family. Today, I want to provide an update on the development of our business model and what we're learning about making a real difference. For us, one part of making a difference is raising money for our food pantry and food bank partners. During our first 2 months, we made a commitment to give 50 percent of our profits to Pettengill House, Inc. Profits don't come quickly to start-up businesses, but we weren't surprised or discouraged by the amount we raised. Most small businesses take 2-3 years to break even, and longer to start sharing their profits. But we're not most businesses, and we've promised to provide benefits to our nonprofit partners from the very beginning. So when we looked at our results at the end of the first 60 days, we knew we wanted to do better and made the decision to give 100 percent of our revenues to Pettengill.

We also established a charitable giving account, separate from our business, that will allow us to give additional support to food banks, now and in the future. This will help provide stability while we continue to fine-tune the business and work toward a model that is sustainable over time, rather than revisiting or changing our mission after only two months. For November 2009 - March 2010, we're sharing 50% of our profits with food bank partners throughout New England. Check out our partner list in the right hand column.

Another way we make a difference is by raising awareness about hunger issues in our community and across the country. Our products help do that, but so do the actions we take as a family. On Wednesday, we're looking forward to volunteering together as a family and helping to help prepare for the Lions Club's Thanksgiving Dinner in Newburyport. Understanding that the bread + butter project isn't just about us, we'd love to hear from our customers and followers about what you're doing to make a difference, particularly if you're working together as a family. Coincidentally, today is National Family Volunteer Day. Click the green "comments" below to tell us what you're doing.

-Tom

Visit our SHOP

Hoods and long sleeves - Get 'em while they last, for less...

One of our most popular products, the junior hooded T-shirt is on sale for a limited time. Typically priced at $25.90, you can now get the bread + butter junior hooded T in one of four color combos for just $21.90 when you add it to your cart and process your order. No gift code is required. Get 'em while they last.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Turkey Toss

We are going to be one of the sponsors of the Matty in the Morning Turkey Toss on KISS 108 here in Boston! This is very exciting for us here at bread + butter because they are expecting about 1,000 high school kids to attend. It's become quite a rivalry - complete with football teams and cheerleading squads from area schools - to see who can throw a turkey the farthest (okay seems silly but it's fun). This is a great opportunity for us to get out in front of an audience and we will be bringing sample shirts and giving some away too!! This is also the station I used to work for so it's an opportunity for me to reconnect with some of my old pals.

Be listening on Wed morning the 25th. If you are not in the Boston area, you can hear the show online at www.kiss108.com

Gobble, Gobble.
Sue

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Slow & Steady Wins the Race

Hey everyone, Sue here. Boy, Monday's seem to have an uncanny way of sneaking up and ruining the weekend just when you were getting into the relaxation groove. Anyway, here we are and tonight I am struggling to share because I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed with our list of things to do. Not only on the personal front - homework, activities, work, holiday prep - but on the bread + butter front as well. There are just so many ideas going through our little brains as we prepare to take it to the next level. It is exciting and intimidating all at the same time. The bottom line is we want to let more people know about us and there are just so many vehicles to explore.

Should we start a newsletter?
Should we buy more radio advertising?
How can we hook up with a local retail partner or bread shop and do a partner promotion?
Should we do trade shows? Videos? Drop flyers from the sky?

I'm reading a book write now called "Leap, 101 Ways to Jump Start Your Business" and I'm enjoying it but it makes me want to implement all of it NOW. I'm very challenged in the area of patience, as in I have none. There are so many professionals I would like to hire but our budget doesn't allow for it so we are learning as we go, but we are headed in the right direction. And most importantly for us, we are determined to continue in a way that stays true to our mission. Even if that is slow and steady, (which isn't my nature) we are going to do it right. We figure if every action has the ultimate purpose of providing our customers with an opportunity to make a difference through our brand, than there are no real mistakes. Just learning moments.

We are fortunate to have partners that are committed to helping us succeed and stay focused on our goal. Katie & Emma are pretty good about that as well. Thanks my little darlings. Love you both and good night. mom.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Scarves and hats and aprons - Oh my!

Today is a great day to buy bread + butter accessories, including baseball hats, scarves, tote and messenger bags, etc. And, if you order accessories today, you'll get 20% off. Just enter gift code TGIF when you process your order. We have many items ranging from $10 - $25 that make great stocking stuffers, including a new adult-sized apron. To see them all, just select 'accessories' from the pull-down menu under the shop tab at the top of our SHOP

On working together as a family

At bread + butter, we're working together as a family to help hungry people, develop a sustainable business model and find out what it takes to make a real difference. One of our readers wanted to hear more about part of this, and submitted the following comment:

"I think your business is interesting, and I'm curious about how it is developing. I've attended some programs run by the UNH Center for Family Business, and would like to read more about how you are working together as a family, particularly with young children. Is it part of your plan to write more about this on your website?"

It has definitely been interesting. I've found that I need to remind myself that this work is very different than my regular job at a 60 year-old corporation with thousands of employees and all the resources it needs to be successful. Starting up a business on nights and weekends with one laptop computer and a few hundred dollars of investment is definitely not the same. I've also found that I need to regularly remind myself that two of bread + butter's partners are only 10 and 12 years old, and what we can expect from them is not the same thing a manager can expect from regular employees. Lastly, I'm finding that all of my family members have great ideas, and are much more creative than I am, which is a very good thing. Where I can help them is taking the ideas and finding a way to help put them into action, so that they don't get stuck in the idea stage due to short attention spans or other competing priorities. All in all, it continues to be a lot of fun. I'm excited about our mission. I only wish we had a few more hands on deck so that we could make more progress more quickly.

-Tom

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Wonderful Wonderful Weekend

Thursday nights are the best because it's the unofficial start of the weekend, especially for those of us who don't work on Fridays. Or at least work a paying job! Going to my old stomping grounds - KISS 108 in Boston - tomorrow to record a radio spot for bread + butter. We decided it's time to take it to the next level so we need to ramp up the advertising a bit. They say you have to spend money to make money!!

Girls are off to bed and the house is starting to quiet down. It's just been so busy for all of us. Every week I think the next one will be more manageable, more sane, more relaxed. Yeah, right. Let me know when that happens for you. I think it's a long time away for us. Ah, sleep is overrated anyway. Time for my guilty pleasure, and speaking of The Office, I have taken the liberty of posting my picture with John Krasinski (Jim) yet again. My apologies but I'm darn proud of this picture, it would only be better if he were wearing a bread + butter shirt...but there is time.
~Sue
Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Tis The Season of Yummieness

Hiya everyone. Katie here,
At the moment I would highly enjoy some candy or something of that sort. I think my motive for this blog will be I get a peice or so at the end. Well, the day before thanks giving we will be volounteering at the Immaculate Conception School cafeteria to set up for their annual Thanksgiving day meal, for people who can't afford to buy one. Still holding strong with that candy motive. Anyway, we will help set the table and peel potatoes etc. It's a great cause that I along with the rest of my family are very excited to participate in. Candy stats...I'm really leaning twords a Hersheys right now. Back to Thanksgiving, you can also donate Thanksgiving day meals at local food pantries. So remember when your saying grace on thanks giving, remember to pray for those less fortunate who may not be able to afford a fancy meal like you.
--
Later Earthlings... I will now approach the candy bag.
*************************************************************************************
P.S. By the way speaking of candy today Bread and I donated much of our candy to soldiers, I know i would still have my candy from last year if my mom had not thrown it away. So do something better then throwing it away, and find a location near you so you can send some of your haloween candy to our soldeirs, especially at this time of year, the spirit of Veterans Day!!!!
Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Get the message?

Backpacks are out. Messenger bags are in. They work for work, school, weekends, whatever... These bags come in three different color combos and make great gifts. Sort by 'accessories' in our shop to see them all. Buy a bunch. Pair them with a bread + butter T-shirt or sweatshirt. If the amount of your total bread + butter order exceeds $50, which we certainly hope it will, you'll get free ground shipping in the US through November 30. Just enter code FREESHIP3 when you process your order. Customers in Canada should enter code CADFREESHIP3 to receive $6.95 off of shipping.

Remember, when you buy bread + butter, you help feed the hungry. When you wear bread + butter, you show that you care. When you share bread + butter, you help spread the word and raise awareness about hunger problems in your community and across the country. bread + butter: Spread it!


Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

bread + butter = HAPPY

It is so gratifying to see the smile that our products put on our customers faces! It makes all the hard work well worth it. And knowing that a sweatshirt on you is a meal on someone's plate? Priceless.

Happy Birthday Rachel!! You look mahvelous! From all of us at bread + butter headquarters.

Get your distressed hoodie today and give a little back. Visit our SHOP NOW

bread + butter with Emma

Hi, it's Emma. This is a picture of me today, eating bread + butter at Panera. I love their sour dough bread. This was right before I got my ears pierced. It was a great day. I hope you had a great day too. You can make it a better day for others by buying a bread + butter shirt. Thanks for your help. The end.

-Emma

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Bread + Butter at The Office...Yum!!

Hello everyone, It's Sue. Sorry but I couldn't help but share my picture with John Krasinksi who I met at FOX 25 on Friday while he was promoting the new movie he directed. I can't believe what a sweetheart he is! He couldn't be more down to earth and gracious - so all you Office fans...eat your heart out. And you too Ben Affleck!

Bread + butter hobnobs with the rich and famous...I'm kinda liking it. Hmmm, who should we go after next? Someone who is caring and charitable...and cute works too. Any ideas?

Don't forget - FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $30 THIS WEEKEND. USE CODE "HAPPYHOUR". ONLY GOOD THROUGH SUNDAY, 11/8. Remember, when you buy bread + butter, you help feed the hungry. When you wear bread + butter, you show that you care. When you share bread + butter, you help spread the word and raise awareness about hunger problems in your community and across the country. Thanks for your help.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Note from a West coast customer and a free shipping offer

Passing along a great note we received just yesterday. Following our New England expansion, who knew we'd start getting orders from as far away as Washington See below.

To the executives at the bread + buttter project:
It is so nice to hear that a company is donating more than a small portion of profits to help others! What a great idea. I heard about you through a friend in Newburyport and then went onto your site and was impressed with what you are doing. So I bought my first shirt today. I talked to my daughters, ages 5 and 7, about your project and how it was started by kids. Go Katie and Emma. You guys rock! Just wanted to let you know that your work ethic and compassion for others is being recognized from as far as 3,000 miles away.

Sincerely,
Kristin D - Seattle, WA

We're also excited to announce free shipping for all US bread + butter orders over $30 this weekend (11/6 - 11/8). Now is a great time to stock up on bread + butter products, get a headstart on holiday shopping, and save on shipping. Just use one of the following coupon codes when you complete your order at our online shop:

USD$: HAPPYHOUR
CAD$: CADHAPPYHOUR

Orders shipping to Canada will receive $6.99 off of shipping.

Remember, when you buy bread + butter, you help feed the hungry. When you wear bread + butter, you show that you care. When you share bread + butter, you help spread the word and raise awareness about hunger problems in your community and across the country. Thanks for your help.

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

bread + butter + beyonce?

While I have always admired her [singing talent], I have never felt particularly connected to pop star diva Beyonce Knowles, until tonight, that is. While stirring up a delicious meal of classic double cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper, I learned, from the box, that Beyonce's "I Am" Tour and Hamburger Helper are partnering with Feeding America to deliver up to 3.5 Million meals to local food banks. That's awesome! The only thing that would be better would be if Ms. Knowles would agree to wear a bread + butter shirt and record a music video of the Newbeats' classic Bread and Butter for exclusive use on our website. Hey, it could happen. If you know her, mention that it would be a good thing to do. In the meantime, you can help support New England food banks with your purchase of a bread + butter product.

-Tom

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP

Our press release - pass it along to your favorite editors!

NEWBURYPORT, MA – November 2, 2009: The bread + butter project has announced its New England-wide expansion, including new partnerships with nonprofit food banks in each of the six New England states. The project, started just two months ago by a Newburyport family, is an online clothing business that promises to provide 50% of its profits to organizations that help feed the hungry. The Connecticut Food Bank, Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Maine, Greater Boston Food Bank in Massachusetts, New Hampshire Food Bank, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and Vermont Foodbank will benefit from the sale of bread + butter products from November 2009 through March 2010, at which time the bread + butter project team hopes to expand nationally, helping feed hungry people across the country.

Starting with little more than a laptop computer and a desire to help, 12 year-old Katie O’Rourke and her 10 year-old sister, Emma, along with their parents Tom O’Rourke and Sue Tabb, began blogging and designing T-shirts in August. For the first two months, they used their website www.breadandbutterproject.com and companion e-store to raise awareness and money for the food pantry and meals program at Pettengill House, Inc. in Salisbury, MA. Now they are ready to take the next step – a step that will enable them to help more people.

“Our plan was to start locally, expand regionally, and then go national,” said Tom O’Rourke, “We’re using this experience to teach our daughters about how businesses can help people; show them that personal and charitable goals don’t have to be mutually exclusive; and challenge them to help us develop a unique brand and sustainable business model.” And the inspiration actually started with the kids. “Our daughters were upset by what they learned about hunger problems in school and in the media, and they wanted to do something,” said Tabb. “We started talking about the many possibilities, and this was an idea we could all agree on. It’s about raising money, but it’s also about raising awareness and drawing attention to the hunger problems confronting so many American families in a tough economy.”

Rather than establishing a separate charity, the family chose to work with existing nonprofit partners. “By partnering with large regional food banks, the bread + butter project can provide financial support for the organizations which are already doing an excellent job and are best positioned to help hungry people in each market,” said O’Rourke.

The bread + butter name is a reminder of the simple basics that many families have to go without during difficult economic times. And the family is confident that their clothing line, which includes basic products like T-shirts, sweatshirts and other accessories – all bearing the bread + butter signature and a logo with two girls, representing Katie and Emma – will appeal to many customers throughout New England and beyond. “We really hope people like the products and buy them, but we also hope they’ll be interested in the story behind the bread + butter project, and will want to help make a difference through our brand,” said Tabb. “We’re excited to see how far we can take this and how big of a difference we can make.”

The New England-wide expansion is timed to coincide with both the holiday shopping season and a time of year when people are thinking more about supporting charities. The bread + butter product line is currently available exclusively online at www.breadandbutterproject.com. Prices range from $15 - $45. You can also use the website to follow the O’Rourke family’s progress. Each member takes turns posting daily blog-style updates on the site.

###

Click the green "comments" below to add your thoughts. or visit our SHOP