ROCHESTER, NY (June 9, 2020) – In response to the shortage of hand sanitizer caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Rochester, NY based distillery Black Button Distilling, one of the top five craft distilleries in the USA, began manufacturing ethanol-based hand sanitizer to be distributed to Rochester-area hospitals, doctor’s offices and other at-risk communities. Today, as part of ongoing corporate philanthropy initiatives, Black Button Distilling is proud to announce a donation of $100k in hand sanitizer to the United Way, for distribution to local non-profits.
Made according to recent FDA Guidelines, the hand sanitizer has been manufactured since March and sold to local hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other at-risk communities at cost. Due to demand, the hand sanitizer is also available for purchase by the public and is available in all 50 states.
Black Button Distilling, now the largest producer of hand sanitizer in New York state, has committed to supporting the local community in this time of need. The donation, which amounts to 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, has already benefitted a number of area non-profits, including Heritage Christian Services and St. Peter’s Kitchen:
“This contribution will be used to ensure that our dedicated staff and people supported by Heritage Christian Services will continue to receive the highest quality of care during this time of uncertainty,” said Jillian Carter, Director of Advancement at Heritage Christian Services. “Acts of kindness like this help support our agency in providing resources needed to assist our essential staff while they’re serving people 24 hours a day during this crisis.”
“This donation gave us the ability to help keep our community safe during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Patricia Lorenzen, Executive Director at St. Peter’s Kitchen. “We were not prepared to do take-out meals feeding over 170 people each day last month. We never missed a beat and having hand sanitizer to help those we serve was a great advantage in keeping everyone as safe as possible.”
In addition to the $100k donation, Black Button Distilling has set up a Go Fund Me campaign to enable to community to contribute. For every $10 donated, one bottle of hand sanitizer will be given to a non-profit organization in need across Monroe County. United Way of Greater Rochester will coordinate distribution to area non-profits.
“We are honored to work with other great, community minded Rochester organizations like United Way as we look to meet the need for hand sanitizer in our community,” said Jason Barrett, Black Button Distilling President and Master Distiller. “Together we are assisting companies and non-profits like Heritage Christian Services and St. Peter’s Kitchen allowing them to keep those who they care for safe in these trying times. We hope it will inspire other Rochester businesses to ask what they can do to support everyone in our community with what we need to stay safe. For it is only by how we care for those who cannot care for themselves that our true colors are shown.”
To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-black-button-distilling-make-hand-sanitizer
If your agency needs Black Button Distilling Hand Sanitizer, email covidresponse@UWrochester.org
Separately, the Black Button Distilling Tasting Room is offering limited service in the form curb-side pick-up for spirits and specialty cocktail kits. Additionally, Black Button Distilling spirits are also available in locally-owned and operated liquor stores. Black Button encourages consumers to support locally owned liquor stores and buy locally made spirits.
About Black Button Distilling Black Button Distilling is the first grain-to-glass farm distillery in Rochester, NY since prohibition and one of the top 5 Craft Distilleries in the USA, according to USA Today’s 10 Best 2016 and 2017 Readers' Choice poll. Founded in 2012 and housed in a 9,000-square-foot space near Rochester’s historic Public Market, Black Button Distilling specializes in farm to still products, using unique and all-natural ingredients from local farms to craft 4,000 bottles of award-winning spirits each week, distributed in 12 states and Japan. Black Button Distilling has been named to Inc. Magazine's Top 5,000 list twice, making it one of the fastest-growing private companies in America two years in a row.
www.blackbuttondistilling.com
85 Railroad Street, Rochester NY 14609
cheers@blackbuttondistilling.com • 585-730-4512