MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
In this unprecedented time, we want to thank all our Members for their continued support, emails, and well wishes! MWL is uniquely placed to weather this storm, and it is thanks to you that we can do this. We’re taking this time to regroup, study up, cook for our staff (see more below), and dream up your next favorite cocktail.
Our thoughts are with all our MWL friends, our Members and their families, our hospitality brethren, and our wider Portland community. While many of the headlines are dire, the news is also bringing us stories of generosity, compassion and true community spirit, as well as a continuing celebration of everyday joys. In this spirit, we are sending out this missive to stay connected, share resources and ideas, and look to the future when we can invite you all safely back to the Multnomah Whiskey Library.
Keep reading for more MWL news, as well as five essential bottles for your home bar. If you’re wondering what to do with that dusty bottle of creme de cacao on your shelf, we’re here for you! Send us an email, or a picture of your collection, and we’ll come up with some great cocktail ideas for you!
We are also planning a curbside wine pick up from the Library for our Members. We’re working on getting you some fantastic deals from local wineries, so keep an eye out for our email.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at the Library
GIVING HELP WHEN IT IS NEEDED MOST
It’s no secret that the restaurant industry has been dealt a mighty blow by Covid-19.
At MWL we are doing our best to support our team members who are unable to work during this time. Our Head Chef, Jason West, is cooking up team meals twice a week for our staff, as well as our neighbors at Shift Drinks, to pick up or have delivered to their house, and we are implementing a csa-style box program to make sure everyone has the staples they need. Extra food is being offered to Botanist, who has partnered with Do Good Multnomah to provide sack lunches for industry workers. Restaurant employees can show up with their last pay stub and take home a meal.
A big thank you to all our Members who have been checking in, offering to donate funds, and encouraging us in our efforts. Our friends at Beam Suntory are also making generous weekly contributions to our ongoing support programs.
If you are interested in participating, want an update, or just want to say “hello” to your favorite bartender or bar back, please email us at [email protected]
There is no better time to look around us, and see how we can help our community. The folks over at the Oregon Food Bank are working around the clock to get food where it is needed most. It is an enormous undertaking, and it has never been more important to do our part to help.
Some of you met Kyle Hummel, Oregon Food Bank Community Relations Officer, when MWL volunteered at their facility in December. Kyle has set up a page for MWL Members and friends to donate. Every dollar equals 3 meals, so every little bit helps.
If you, like many of us, have been affected financially by Covid-19, consider donating blood. The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed now to donate to help patients who are counting on lifesaving blood.
For our friends in the hospitality industry that are unable to work, programs are popping up all over Portland to help. Here is a great article outlining some of the other available resources. Please pass it along to anyone who needs it!