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Northeast Arc and distillery forge a spirited partnership in Peabody
By Thor Jourgensen | March 31, 2020
PEABODY — Two college classmates combined forces to produce and distribute hand sanitizer and help nonprofit workers stay safe as they aid people during the coronavirus outbreak.
Northeast Arc Chief Development Officer Craig Welton and Tobacco Road Distillers owner Sergio Bonavita played football at St. Anselm College and maintained a 20-year friendship that sparked a March 19 conversation.
With hand sanitizer in short supply as coronavirus unfolded, Welton told Bonavita how more than 150 Arc employees aid developmentally disabled and medically vulnerable clients in 30 areas residences.
“Our front line providers provide direct care. Our need is great,” he said.
Bonavita’s Southwick, Mass., distillery swung into action and concocted hand sanitizer using ethanol — a basic ingredient in consumable alcohol and hand sanitizer.
“We were glad to help,” Bonavita said.
The production process was familiar to Tobacco Road: Prior to coronavirus, the company made a small batch of sanitizer for use by employees during the workday, following federal Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
Northeast Arc didn’t just think about its own employee-safety needs following Welton’s conversation with Bonavita. The nonprofit, through Chief Executive Officer Jo Ann Simons, reached out to organizations affiliated with the Arc of Massachusetts and quickly came up with a list of ones needing sanitizer.
Arc of Massachusetts is focused on providing community support and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through local chapters and affiliated organizations.
Tobacco Road shipped 630 64-ounce bottles to Northeast Arc last Saturday and distribution began immediately and continued through Monday, with the Foster Street Black Box Theater serving as the pickup point.
Welton said organizations across the state were grateful to take delivery of the sanitizer jugs. The nonprofits included Bridgewell, Communitas Inc., in Wakefield, Plummer Youth Promise in Salem, and Arc organizations as far away as the Berkshires and Cape Cod.
Welton said hand sanitizer is vital for care providers keeping coronavirus at bay as they help residential and medically-needy clients meet daily needs.
“They are providing an essential service,” he said.
Bonavita said Tobacco Road is contacting suppliers to assemble ingredients needed to produce more sanitizer.
“We’ve had people reach out to us in the last 24 hours to see if we can do it again,” he said.