Ashley Baby Kearney Daily Hub
Bertrand — When Jennifer Weber started a fundraiser to help fire departments that battled recent wildfires in southwest Nebraska, she hoped to return about $1,000.
Weber has owned Pretty & Fabulous Boutique and t-shirt printing in Bertrand since 2017. In April, she wore a designer T-shirt to honor first responders. Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts will be donated to fire departments in the local area directly affected by the fires. Within days, more than $30,000 had been raised.
A friend told her she had to do a fundraiser for fire departments shortly after the April Route 739 fire near Arapahoe. The house of Weber, whose husband was a volunteer in the Bertrand Volunteer Fire Department, caught fire. However, I got busy and decided to wait before starting the project. But just a few weeks later, another fire destroyed more than 40,000 acres near Cambridge. Webber knew she couldn’t wait any longer.
She called her stylist, Emma Larson of Loomis, about what she wanted to do. Larson ran with his “Prairie Strong” shirt idea. Weber opened online sales of the t-shirt on April 23, and created a post about this t-shirt on Facebook. Her initial post reached 85,235 people and was shared 685 times.
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Webber had hoped to be able to return a little favor to local administrations, but the effect extended far beyond she could have imagined. By April 27, Webber realized that people had ordered T-shirts from 22 states. Her new goal was to try to sell a shirt to customers in all 50 states.
“I left (the sale) open a little longer just because people are still asking,” she explained.
When the sale closed on May 1, shirts were purchased from 47 states and one to a US military base in Europe. Although Pretty & Fabulous is a full-fledged print shop, Weber knew that when sales reached over $10,000 in just a few hours, they would need to enlist the help of T-shirt printing. I worked with Sayler Screenprinting at Kearney, and reached out to them for help.
“On Monday when I hit $10,000, I called Kyle, and said, ‘Well, I’m either going to have to shut it down because this is going to take weeks on proof, or I’m going to need your help.’ It’s like, “No, we got you.” He said: Leave it open. Do what you can, and we’ll make it for you. “It was great to collaborate with him and it was great to work with another printer,” Weber said.

Sandy Dunhill and Jennifer Weber unload T-shirts made in honor of first responders to the recent Nebraska wildfires. The money raised from the sale of T-shirts will be donated to volunteer fire departments directly affected by the fires.
Ashley Pepinsey, Kearney Hub
Webber received 40 boxes of T-shirts last week. She was waiting for the graduation party to end in order to have a location big enough to start sorting and organizing all the shirts to be shipped. She had about 10 local volunteers — many with connections to fire departments — who offered to help her get the T-shirts out of the house.
Weber has a long list of fire departments he plans to donate proceeds to, including those in south-central Nebraska that responded to the Route 739 and 702 fires and those that responded to a fire near Elsie Wallace.
As talk of t-shirts spread, Weber heard from many locals who missed the opportunity to buy a t-shirt or weren’t sure how to buy it online. Online t-shirt sales have reopened at prettyandfab.com under the title “Prairie Strong”. It will remain open until after Memorial Day. The money collected will go to the fire departments in the area that were not missed in the first round.
Wildfires are causing widespread agricultural losses in Nebraska
“I hope to be able to help as many volunteer fire departments as possible. It would not have been possible without the support that has been received across the United States and the United States.” It is truly amazing watching people come together and work together in difficult times. That’s what makes Nebraska such a great place to live, with neighbors helping neighbors.”
12 Shops In Nebraska To Check Out
Aqua baby suite

Suite Child Aqua is located on 2304 Central Ave. In downtown Kearney, you will find the latest fashion for babies and toddlers as well as useful products for families with newborns. There is also a shop in Elkhorn.
Mike Koons, Kearney Hub
York Boot and Repair

Tammy and Randy Obermere have owned York Boot ‘N Repair on the east side of the town square for 100 years. This business is a full-service leather repair shop that also builds custom orthotics and sells boots and shoes.
Melanie Wilkinson, News Times
Platte River outdoors

Platte River Outdoors in Loup City sells a variety of hunting, fishing, and shooting equipment and accessories. The store is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm
Grace MacDonald, Kearney Hub
fun treasures

Fun Treasures at 304 Broadway Street in Taylor in Loop County. The shop carries gifts and fragrances, as well as life-size plywood figures made to order, and is open Thursday and Friday afternoons.
Fun treasures Facebook page
The most unlikely place

The Most Unlikely Place, 205 Main St. In Lewellen, just a short drive from Lake McConaughy, it’s open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and closed for the season from mid-November to mid-March.
The bistro/compound gallery serves breakfast and lunch as well as a variety of fine art. Sculptures, jewelry, paintings, and more are available.
Victoria Ayotte Brown, Journal Star
Fort Cody Trading Post

The Fort Cody Trading Post, 221 Halligan Drive in North Platte, contains a variety of merchandise. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.We have the best selection of Western Books Anywhere, Handmade Native American Jewelry & Art, T-shirts, Toys, Minnetonka Moccasins, Retro Soda Pop, Candy, Hot Sauces, Cookbooks, Made in Nebraska Items & Food, Souvenirs, Cards and more Lots,” the store’s Facebook page boasts.
Nebraska Tourism
Hollywood Candy

Hollywood Candy is located in Old Omaha Market at 1209 Jackson St. It has a large selection of PEZ dispensers, vintage games, and novelties.
Rick Nebel / Nebraska Tours
Brown Sheep Company Mill Store

The Brown Sheep Co. Mill Store, located at 100662 County Road 16 in Mitchell, is attached to the mill and sells the company’s “Seconds” yarn and other knitting/knitting supplies. The company’s yarns are known and sold all over the world. One perk of Mill Shop is “to see all the wonderful hand paints that our hand painter experiments with when developing new color approaches. Because these wipes are unique and generally not reproduced, they are not offered to our retail customers for purchase,” according to their site. company.
Nebraska Tourism
Master Hand Candle Company

Master Hand Candle Co. At Tekamah, 3599 County Road F, it has more than just candles – Delicious Chocolates, Flowers, Home Decor, Shopping, Gifts, Jewelry, Conservative and diva wear. The store’s website declares it “every woman’s dream store”. The store is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5:30 pm
Nebraska Tourism
North Platte Art and Gift Gallery

North Platte Art and Gift Gallery, 516 N. Dewey, is open Tuesday through Saturday and features contemporary local art in a variety of media. The project began in 1987 when a group of local artists rented an old downtown storefront. One of the five galleries hosts competitive monthly art shows.
Rick Nebel / Nebraska Tours
Park Avenue Antiques

Park Avenue Antique, 515 N. Park Avenue in Fremont, has furniture, dishes, linens, home décor, and books, as well as many signs. The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Emilie Bouvier / Nebraska Tours
storage room

Her website describes The Keeping Room as “a A mixture of elegant antiques, unique holidays, home décor, unique fashion, food and drink and a friendly atmosphere. The Nebraska City store is located at 717 Central Ave. It is open Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 10-7 and Sunday 1-4 p.m.
Rick Nebel / Nebraska Tours
custom marshall hats

Custom Marshall Hats, 214 Staples Street, in Arthur features handmade hats made by James Marshall. “It’s amazing that about 42 percent of my customers are repeat customers,” Marshall told Tri-State Livestock News last year. “Once I get them once, they usually come back for another.”
Nebraska Tourism