When it comes to state pride, Connecticut is not exactly Texas.
We don’t go around demanding, “Don’t mess with Connecticut.” There’s no special hand signal to cheer for UConn. We don’t look nostalgically back on the days when we were an independent republic.*
That was not news to Roscoe and Tory Brown. Back in 2014, when the siblings — both Staples High School graduates — launched 203, the apparel and accessories company celebrating the Zip Code area code — they knew there were not a lot of ways to celebrate “our state, our home.”
But as they traveled around Connecticut, selling their t-shirts, hoodies, hats and other gear through pop-up shops at community events, they realized Nutmeggers** were actually enthusiastic about this place.
Roscoe and Tory Brown, and some of their merchandise.
Roscoe and Tory also noticed at those events that people and organizations were continually giving back, to charities and local non-profits.
So they launched an annual “203 Community Day.” Each year, it’s held the week of February 3rd. (2/03 — get it?!)
This year, Roscoe and Tory are helping ease a post-holiday problem. Every January, donations to homeless shelters drop drastically. Socks and underwear are desperately needed, yet always in scarce supply.
So “The Two-Oh-Three” has teamed up with Half Full Brewery. This Friday (January 31, 4 to 10 p.m., 43 Homestead Avenue, Stamford), they’ll collect new, unopened packages of socks and underwear there. The goal is 600 pairs. They’ll present them to shelters on 2/03.
But it’s not just a drop-off. Roscoe and Tory invite donors to stick around at the brewery for food, beverages, music and fun.
As an added incentive, every donor gets a free, special edition “Two-Oh-Three” beer.
What? You didn’t know Connecticut had its own beer?
Take that, Texas!
(Can’t make it to Half Full Brewery in Stamford? You can drop off donations at Two-Oh-Three’s office: 1869 Post Road East, Westport. If they’re not there, just put them in the box by the door.)
*Because we weren’t.
** Our official name. It’s not quite as crisp as “Texans.”
With shirts and windbreakers, Two Oh Three apparel says there’s no place like “home.”
