There is one thing that distilleries do very well and that’s to make alcohol. Now, distilleries in North America and the UK are turning this skill into the practice of making hard-to-find hand sanitizer.

According to Modern Farmer, distilleries of all sizes across North America have pivoted in their operations to do their part as the virus sweeps across the globe. Many distilleries are using a guide released by the World Health Organization about how to produce hand sanitizer in a local capacity.

In Chicago, KOVAL Distillery set up a GoFundMe page to ensure it can supply hand sanitizer to the community free of cost. Its $60,000 goal covers the cost of products, labour and utilities to keep its building running. As of Friday morning, the page raised $50,000.

The distillery is going to continue collecting donations even after its goal is reached, to provide free hand sanitizer for as long as possible. Since Monday afternoon, when KOVAL began its hand sanitizer production, it has produced more than 3,000 liters of hand sanitizer.  The goal is to produce about 1,800 to 2,200 liters a day in order to supply frontline healthcare workers, the Chicago Police Department, shelters and retirement homes.

Photo from KOVAL