Expect the unexpected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eight Oaks Farm Distillery in New Tripoli surely didn’t expect to be producing hand sanitizer in 2020.

“It was definitely something that was not at all on our radar,” said CEO Chad Butters. “It was completely driven by the events of the world. Around March 14 or so, it became apparent to us that the whole COVID-19 thing was going to be something that we would have to get ahold of and react to.”

And the residents of the ABC Tamaqua Hi-Rise didn’t expect to be without it. That’s when resident Lucy Tucker decided to do some research.

“It’s just what I do, I started to try and solve the problem,” Tucker said. “I knew there were distilleries that were doing this and I saw that Eight Oaks in New Tripoli was the closest one.

“The next day, I emailed them back and they asked me the size of the building and how much I needed,” she said. “They offered two cases, but that we would have to wait a week or two.”

Eight Oaks then replied to Tucker and welcomed a pickup donation for the Hi-Rise. Tucker was given a time slot and the rest was history.

“I asked them If I could bring anybody because I didn’t know how heavy the cases were, Tucker said. “They said yes, as long as everyone in the car had a mask … Someone in the building drew me a map, because I don’t have a GPS. We went off and we got two cases of hand sanitizer.”

Butters explained that producing hand sanitizer was initially viewed as a short-term project. But as the coronavirus pandemic continued, plans changed.

“We started getting requests from the Department of Defense and Homeland Security,” Butters said. “All of these people that you would certainly think - they of all people would have access to hand sanitizer. … Once that hit, we knew it was game on and we really had to do something to ramp up production as quickly as we could.”

It took time to get rolling, but now, Eight Oaks is pumping out about 4,000 gallons of sanitizer per day. In fact, as of Monday afternoon, Eight Oaks has produced the equivalent of 67,886 8-ounce bottles of sanitizer.

“We did a quick analysis of whether or not we could do it and it seemed pretty feasible,” said Butters. “As we collectively got together with co-founders and board members, we asked if this is something we should do. The vote was unanimous that we should absolutely do it, because it was the right thing to do.”

Butters noted that many local businesses helped via donations and that the process wouldn’t be possible without them.

“We had Nestle and Niagara Water donated a bunch of bottles for us,” Butters said. “We’ve had trucking companies donate trailers and forklift companies donate forklifts. Action Rental has donated some fencing for us; so it’s everyone coming together to make this happen.

“To be able to see that, and also see how our farmers and local farm stands, butchers and dairy farms - those are the people that are taking care of our community right now, and I think everyone needs to certainly remember that when we’re in better times.”

Eight Oaks will open to the public for curbside pickup on Wednesday. Orders may be placed online for hand sanitizer or spirits.