Uptown Dog’s partner company from Columbus is selling a shirt, with 100 percent of the proceeds going toward the affected businesses from the West Union Street fire.
When Athens native Zachary Traxler heard about the fire that consumed a block of West Union Street on Sunday, he wanted to help aid the businesses he grew up with.
Since he no longer lives in Athens, Traxler helped by doing what he and his company do best — making T-shirts.
Traxler Custom Printing, a Columbus-based printing company, is selling T-shirts for $20 each, with all proceeds going to help the five affected businesses.
A drawing of the store fronts on West Union adorn the shirt, along with, “#UnionStreetStrong,” which has been used on Twitter since Sunday.
Traxler’s company has partnered with Uptown Dog T-Shirts, 10 W. Union St., — one of the affected businesses — for about a year and a half and prints some of the establishment’s merchandise.
“(Uptown Dog T-Shirts is) a huge percentage of our business here,” said Traxler, co-owner and founder of Traxler Custom Printing. “Whatever happens to them affects us, so it’s the least we can do.”
Traxler said he’s not yet sure of specifics for where the money will go.
Uptown Dog is currently closed due to water and structural damages, including a collapsed wall in the production area at the back of the store, said Mary Cheadle, owner of Uptown Dog.
“We will not be allowed in our current location, so we’re looking right now for a place to temporarily set back up,” she said. “We hope to have not only our own location but also other local businesses that can (support us).”
About 70 shirts were ordered on Tuesday, as of press time.
Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones tweeted a link to the shirt and said she plans to buy one.
“I think at this point, if people want to help, the best way is to give money to these funds,” she said. “I've been trying to get the word out; we don't need any more (donations) because those immediate needs have been taken care of.”
The shirt is currently sold in a variety of sizes and in green, blue, gray and black.
Other fundraising efforts have also emerged in the days following the fire, including several donation pages through GoFundMe for employees of the stores, students and business owners. The page for Union Street employees had received nearly $30,000 as of press time.
@Dinaivey
db794812@ohio.edu
