Three Sheets Brewing with, from left, Nancy Green, Manager, Site Services, Bruce Power; Jeff Carver, owner of Three Sheets Brewing and The Wismer House; and James Scongack, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Operational Services, Bruce Power April 15. Image supplied. 

A community partnership between Bruce Power and Port Elgin's Three Sheets Brewing will allow for the distribution and donation of over 50,000 bottles of hand sanitizer in the coming weeks.

Bruce Power has secured 50,000 bottles of general-purpose hand sanitizer refill from the Junction 56 Distillery in Stratford, read an April 16 media release, which will ship the bottles to The Wismer House for distribution, free of charge, to community organizations and others in need. Junction 56 started production of the sanitizer earlier this week and distribution is expected to start April 27.

“Today’s announcement is the first step in what we hope will be a broader initiative to make hand sanitizer, a much-needed product in fighting COVID-19, available to residents across Bruce, Grey and Huron counties, along with First Nation communities here at home and in other parts of Ontario,” said Mike Rencheck, President and CEO of Bruce Power. "On April 24, the partnership will be announcing the organizations that will be receiving the first 50,000 bottles and the many sponsors and organizations that are supporting this initiative," he added.

“In times like these, we look to our business community to find ways to support their customers and neighbours. We’re proud to be working with Three Sheets Brewing and The Wismer House to help the people in our communities," said Nancy Green, Manager, Site Services at Bruce Power.

Jeff Carver, owner of Three Sheets Brewing and The Wismer House, emphasized the need for the business community to lend a hand to the efforts in our region to protect residents from contracting COVID-19, adding that MacLean’s Ale in Hanover has offered to send some of its staff to Port Elgin to assist in the distribution program. “In this time of crisis and uncertainty it is even more important for everyone to roll up their sleeves and contribute in any way they can,” said Carver. “Bruce Power and Three Sheets have created this partnership so we can assist our friends and neighbours. This is a not-for-profit endeavour with the real reward being able to pool our resources and distribute hand sanitizer to folks who are vulnerable or are putting themselves at risk providing an essential service," he added.

Recognizing the potential for COVID to be a long-term challenge and the guidance from health professionals around the importance of hand washing and sanitizing, the organizations will work together to commence a local production at the Wismer House in Port Elgin as a medium-term goal to begin this summer.

“I want to commend Bruce Power, Three Sheets Brewing and The Wismer House for working together to find new and creative ways of supporting our local communities and the province more broadly,” said Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson.