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Updated: May 2, 2025

Claws for a cause: Sea Bags, Cousins Maine Lobster team on bag fundraiser to fight cancer in Maine

Woman holding a Sea Bag tote with pink lobster design Photo /provided Sea Bags has joined forces with Cousins Maine Lobster on a limited-edition, lobster-themed tote and wristlet to raise funds for the Maine Cancer Foundation. The design is by Valerie Paul, an artist based in Stockton Springs.
By Renee Cordes

Two Maine businesses — Sea Bags and Cousins Maine Lobster — have joined forces on a lobster-themed fundraiser for the Maine Cancer Foundation.

For this year’s campaign, Sea Bags produced a limited–edition tote and wristlet featuring a pink lobster designed by Valerie Paul, a Stockton Springs-based watercolor artist who draws inspiration from the ocean. 

Touted as the “Cure Collection,” the tote retails for $175 while the wristlet is priced at $30, with 20% of the sales proceeds donated to the Maine Cancer Foundation to fund prevention, early detection, access to high-quality health care and patient support across the state. Like other Sea Bags products, the bags are made from recycled sails.

The campaign stems from a longstanding partnership between Sea Bags and the Maine Cancer Foundation, joined this year by Cousins Maine Lobster, a growing food truck and restaurant business with offices on both U.S. coasts, including Portland.

“I’m thrilled with the initial momentum,” said Sea Bags CEO Beth Greenlaw, who was inspired by her mother to start the annual campaign 18 years ago.

“The early success demonstrates how the power of partnership coupled with a strong design can make an impact for a cause everyone is affected by,” she told Mainebiz. 

The promotion runs until the end of May and will be re-launched in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month through the end of the year.

Halfway to fundraising goal 

Jim Tselikis, co-founder of Cousins Maine Lobster with his cousin Sabin Lomac, called the design “absolutely gorgeous.”

Portrait
File photo / Courtesy of Cousins Maine Lobster
Jim Tselikis

“We may be biased, as we love anything with lobster, but local Maine artist and friend Valerie Paul created an iconic illustration of our state’s most beloved crustacean,” he said. “The result is a bag and wristlet that are not only beautiful works of art, but also everyday bags that offer great utility.”

“The campaign is going really well – we’re halfway to our goal of $15,000 in donations,” Laura Hnatow, Sea Bags’ vice president of marketing and ecommerce, reported on Thursday.

Calling collaborations like this invaluable, Maine Cancer Foundation spokesman Brian McKeown said they raise both essential funds and awareness across the state and beyond.

“When mission-driven businesses like Sea Bags and Cousins Maine Lobster align with us, we’re able to amplify our message, reach new audiences and inspire more people to take action,” he said. “These partnerships remind us that fighting cancer is a community effort and that together, we’re stronger.”

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