POET officials have donated 220 gallons of hand sanitizer to help tackle the severe local shortage. POET CEO Jeff Lautt says it’s an all natural ethanol based sanitizer produced at its Chancellor and Scotland biorefineries.

He says they’ve been ramping up the amounts of ethanol they produce at their plants that can be used for the hand sanitizer.

Lautt says they’ve had this sanitizer distributed to those battling the pandemic on the front lines including health care workers, E-M-Ts, firefighters and nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Lautt says once the frontline sanitizer needs are met, POET will focus on partnering with retailers to help individuals needing the product.