In response to the destruction caused this week by Hurricane Michael, which so far has killed at least 17 people, Oskar Blues switched off the beer lines at its cannery for six hours on Friday and canned 66,000 cans of clean water to be donated to relief efforts in Florida.
Founded in Lyons, Oskar Blues Brewery understands exactly how devastating a natural disaster can be for a community. So, too, does Can’d Aid, a Longmont based nonprofit supporting acts of “do-goodery,” that formed as a result of the historic flooding in 2013 .
“Board members and staff remembered losing their homes and having neighbors in distress, so there’s a lot of empathy there,” said Sarah Leavitt, the director of operations and programs at Can’d Aid. “So when the tables were turned, everyone was more than eager to stop the canning lines and put water in instead.”
With the help of Can’d Aid’s network of philanthropic businesses, all 66,000 cans will be immediately shipped to Florida and delivered to local organizations that can distribute them to families in need.
“Usually potable water is one of the first things to go in a natural disaster,” Leavitt said. “Because cans are lightweight and durable, it’s something we can ship and get into people’s homes pretty quickly.”
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