Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
SoCal Distilleries Churn Out Hand Sanitizer
Bottles of the alcohol that Santa Ana's Blinking Owl Distillery would normally produce next to the hand sanitizer it's currently producing during the coronavirus pandemic.
(
Courtesy of Blinking Owl Distillery
)
A couple weeks ago, we told you about how several Southern California distilleries — including Portuguese Bend in Long Beach, AMASS in DTLA and Blinking Owl in Santa Ana — had revamped their operations and were gearing up to make hand sanitizer. Here's an update.
Blinking Owl is producing 2,000 gallons of hand sanitizer per week and starting next week, they'll increase that to 4,000 gallons per week.
Hand sanitizer being produced at Blinking Owl Distillery in Santa Ana.
(
Courtesy of Blinking Owl Distillery
)
The operation has already produced 1,000 16-oz. bottles. Some were donated to restaurants and small medical facilities while others were sold to the general public via the distillery's website. Yes, people snapped them up. The distillery is also producing hand sanitizer in 1-gallon tubs and 55-gallon drums, for industrial use. Blinking Owl co-founder and CFO Robin Christenson tells us the company has been working around the clock to fulfill demand. According to Christenson, several local hospitals, nursing facilities, public agencies and private businesses have already placed orders. They include the cities of Santa Ana, Anaheim and Carson, as well as UC Riverside, the Culver City Police Department, Memorial Hospital Fountain Valley, Amazon, Aldi and local Tesla dealerships.
Support for LAist comes from
Christenson says Blinking Owl has also donated some of its hand sanitizer to Cedars Sinai Marina Del Rey, CHOC Hospital, the Salvation Army and multiple small healthcare facilities.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist