Even though distillers, brewers, and winemakers can get a bad reputation, John Trump writes for Carolina Journal that they play big roles in giving back to their communities.
Certain lawmakers bash drinking, telling stories of how it has destroyed families and ripped communities from their roots. Some of that is true. Liquor in North Carolina has a long and beleaguered history. We all know that, as certain lawmakers are quick to remind us, should we start to forget.
What gets lost in talk of liquor is brotherhood and community, ideas that distillers create and nurture.
The idea of a civil society.
Generosity from the community of hundreds of distillers, brewers, and winemakers is helping to make communities around the state better. John lists a few in his piece.
The Manteo distillers [Outer Banks Distilling] created a new rum — Angels’ Share — and, in partnership with celebrity chef Vivian Howard, put all proceeds from the sale of their new concoction toward the reconstruction of a dilapidated playground in Dare County. Smith estimates 1,000 people showed up for the picnic, and sales of the rum — 372 bottles — raised $15,000, which all went to the county’s parks and rec department and the playground.“Every last dime,” Smith says. “We’re going to be doing this every year, every summer, picking a North Carolina charity. We want to do something back for this community, not just gaining attention for our rum, but to be good citizens.”
Take Southern Grace Distilleries in Mt. Pleasant, which uses proceeds from its products to help fund animal shelters, breast cancer research, Habitat for Humanity, the work of local firefighters, among many other recipients. “When we started our distillery we made a commitment to make a contribution to charity for every bottle we sold,” says Leanne Powell, Southern Grace president.
At TOPO Distillery in Chapel Hill, giving is part of the culture.“We donate a lot of tours and spirits to nonprofits throughout the year,” says spirit guide Esteban McMahan. “Maybe 100 a year; we stopped tracking those after the first year.”But here are a few: Foundation Fighting Blindness, Urban Ministries of Wake County, Triangle Day School, Triangle Raptor Center, Meals on Wheels Wake County, and Ronald McDonald House.
In North Carolina, due to arcane rules and inflexible opposition to alcohol in certain corners, many still criticize the industry without looking at how much they are giving back to their communities.
