The country is dealing with an unprecedented crisis. COVID-19 has shocked the American social fabric and economic landscape like few other events in the nation’s history. And veteran-owned businesses are stepping up to serve.
According to Small Business Administration data from 2012 (the most recent year available), 2.5 million American businesses are veteran-owned. Overwhelmingly, they are small businesses with about 80% having fewer than 20 workers, and over half with fewer than four.
And veteran-owned companies are not backing down from the challenges of COVID-19.
Veterans are inclined to action — seasoned by multiple deployments to the Middle East in the Global War on Terror, the post-9/11 generation of veterans gained experience in working in complex and challenging environments. The uncertainty and immensity of the challenge stirs something in many veterans to find a way to contribute during these difficult times.
Some, like Nine Line apparel, are making protective masks in addition to their regular product line. And numerous veteran-owned craft distilleries across the nation are altering operations to make desperately-needed sanitizer for medical professionals and emergency personnel.
Besides producing their regular products, these companies are also starting Go Fund Me pages where they are simply asking for donations to help them produce these much- needed supplies.
Veteran-owned companies making masks
Nine Line Apparel
This veteran-focused apparel brand stands by the idea of “Being your brother’s keeper.” Named for the radio procedure used to call in a combat MEDEVAC, Nine Line Apparel is maintaining its ethos by using its production capabilities to produce protective face masks and selling them at cost.
Threat Tec
Using their 3D printers to produce masks for healthcare workers, this veteran-owned small business defense contractor is seeking donations to help offset the costs of purchasing raw materials to make more for the medical community.
As of this writing, their Go Fund Me page has raised $1,245 of their goal of $2,000.
CBD, Coffee, and Spirits for Sanitizer
Compass Coffee
Compass Coffee is run by a pair of former Marines, so it’s no wonder they claimed they “wanted to fight back.” Seeing the shortage for sanitizer due to the COVID-19 outbreak, they repurposed their bottling machines to start producing simple sanitizer.
Currently, they are only offering the product in the DC metro area.
Warfighter Hemp
WarFighter Hemp sees the healing power of CBD as a natural way to relieve problems such as anxiety, trouble sleeping, and depression that plague the veteran community. Beyond making a product that is directly aimed at helping veterans, they also give 50% of their profits back to veterans.
During the times of COVID-19, they are altering some of their operations to start producing hand sanitizer for consumers. The bonus? For every bottle you buy, they will donate one more.
They are still in the process of preparing the first batch for sale, but it looks they should be ready in the coming weeks.
Driftwood, TX: Desert Door Distillery
Desert Door Distillery is a veteran-owned distiller of sotol (which they describe as a cross between gin and sipping tequila — yum).
As of March 25, the distillery already donated 5,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to first responders in Texas. They have a stated goal of sending out 20,000 bottles with the priority being the medical community, emergency responders, at-risk populations, and then their local community in Texas.
Desert Door has a Go Fund Me where they are seeking donations to help create more bottles. If you are a local first responder in need of sanitizer, the best way to reach them is info@desertdoor.com.
Lehigh, PA: Eight Oaks Farm Distillery
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery completely shut down their spirit distillation operations in exchange for putting all of their effort into producing sanitizer. That’s seriously making an effort to do something about the situation. They are even saying that their hand sanitizer is free or pay-what-you-can.
Right now, they are only producing sanitizer for mission-critical industries. You can directly donate to them to help continue to produce sanitizer.
Indianapolis, IN: Hotel Tango Distillery
Travis, a former Marine, and his wife, Hilary, run this distillery near Indianapolis. They are currently planning on donating their entire first batch of sanitizer to local shelters. Eventually, the are also looking to send some to overseas military bases and are looking into selling from their tasting rooms as well.
They are not currently advertising any type of fundraising campaign, but they are in need of bottles. If you live in the area, reach out and see what you can do to help.
Oahu, HI: Ko‘olau Distillery
Started by a pair of Marines (Devil Dogs clearly like their spirits — they are everywhere on this list), the Ko‘olau Distillery takes pride in using naturally captured rainwater from the Ko‘olau Range on Hawaii to produce their product.
Having turned their distillation operation into a production facility for sanitizer, they are currently donating sanitizer to first responders, healthcare workers, and civil service providers.
They are running a Go Fund Me page and are on the way to their $8,000 goal but will surely need more as well.
If you are in the local area, they are asking for new or used 2oz, 4oz, and other sized bottles with spray tops. Additionally, they are seeking donations of hydrogen peroxide, food-grade glycerol, and gallon ziplock bags. They request that donations be dropped off at their distillery (905 Kalanianaʻole Hwy Unit 5014, Kaneohe, HI 96744) between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.