KATHMANDU: United States Senator for Vermont, Bernie Sanders, has collected US dollars 1.8 million through his image that went viral.

The image of Sanders at the Biden-Harris inaugural ceremony caught extraordinarily high attention in social media as people all over the world started posting memes of him sitting in his winter gear including the mittens that became a sensation.

The money was collected through sales of merchandise such as sweatshirts, T-shirts, which had the 'Bernie' image printed on them.

The popular $45 black crewneck sweatshirt is said to be the first run of the product sold out in under 30 minutes on Thursday night, a news release from Sanders' office stated. There was an addition to the merchandise over the weekend which also sold out by Monday morning, Bernie shared.

The money collected will be sent to Vermont charities.

According to Associated Press, Area Agencies on Aging to fund Meals on Wheels throughout Vermont, Vermont community action agencies, Feeding Chittenden, Chill Foundation, senior centres in Vermont, and Bi-State Primary Care for dental care improvements in the state are the groups to be benefitted from the proceeds.

The press quoted Sanders' office as saying that the Sander attire has also sparked other charitable endeavours. A crocheted doll of Sanders in his garb was auctioned off online and Burton Snowboards donated 50 jackets to the Burlington Department for Children and Families in Sanders' name.

Moreover, Getty Images confirmed that it will donate its proceeds as part of the licensing agreement to put the photo on the merchandise to Meals on Wheels of America.