Illinois Made: Making a Difference

Check out these Illinois Made businesses doing their part to help out during COVID-19.

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In a time when small businesses are struggling, our Illinois Made Makers are always front of mind. We're incredibly proud of the work they're doing to not only keep customers happy but also go above and beyond in their communities.

Marcoot Jersey Creamery

Heritage Bicycles

Great American Popcorn Co.

Old Bakery Beer

Marcoot Jersey Creamery
Located in Greenville (southern Illinois), this maker has partnered with Chef Rex Hale to donate more than 800 pounds of cheese to churches, pantries and more to AltonWorks, a social impact company with a vision to revitalize downtown Alton, in an effort to keep locals fed during the pandemic.

Heritage Bicycles
Created an initiative for customers to donate coffee & food delivery to essential workers in Chicago, as an act of gratitude for the hard work they are putting in every day to keep the city safe. More info can be found here.

Great American Popcorn Co.
We can all do with a delicious pick-me-up snack in times like this. Great American Popcorn Co. in Galena have us covered with their extensive range of sweet and savory popcorn. Before being required to shut their storefront, they also offered a 50% discount to emergency responders as a ‘thank you’ for their service in our communities.

Old Bakery Beer, Alton
At Old Bakery Beer, they work and live by the saying saying: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” They infused that sentiment (and blueberries) into their newest seasonal beer: Blueberry Cream Ale. A portion of proceeds from every can will benefit Vivent Health, chosen because they consistently improve outcomes for some of our region’s most vulnerable residents.

KOVAL Distillery

Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.

Blaum Bros. Distilling Company

Stumpy's Spirits Distillery

Quincy Street Distillery

Silver Prairie Soap Company

Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer has become a hotly contested commodity in recent times. Several distilleries in the Illinois Made program are currently shifting their business to produce hand sanitizer in bulk for first responders on the front lines fighting against COVID-19. These makers include:

KOVAL Distillery in Chicago
KOVAL has produced and donated over 2,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to local first responders, the medical community, food pantries, and other organizations on the front lines with COVID-19. KOVAL has raised nearly $70,000 through their GoFundMe page to aid their efforts.

Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. in DeKalb (Northwest Illinois)
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. is producing hand sanitizer to be dispersed to their partners at Northwestern Hospital as well as Hyvee to provide for local consumers.

Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. in Galena
Blaum Bros. begun hand sanitizer production in bulk and have enabled online requests for organizations.

Stumpy’s Spirits Distillery in Columbia (southern Illinois)
Stumpy’s Spirits began hand sanitizer production and took online order requests (they have since suspended this service due to supply shortages).

Quincy Street Distillery are also raising funds to help them produce hand sanitizer for non-profit, healthcare organizations, & first responders.

Perhaps more familiar with the production of hand-hygiene goods, Silver Prairie Soap Company also sell their own hand sanitizer.

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Illinois Made: Making a Difference