Sanitizer from Prison

This must be the 2020 version of that old adage, "When life hands you lemons, why not make lemonade?"

The fear of coronavirus, and its impact on global supply chains, has led to significant spikes in sales of specific products, including hand sanitizer. 

According to the most recent data from Nielsen provided to CNBC Make It, the total U.S. dollar sales of hand sanitizer increased by 313.4% between February 22 and February 29. 

Now, the State of New York is trying to combat this problem by producing its own hand sanitizer called “New York State Clean” with the use of prison labor.

In a press conference Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state is rolling out its own line of hand sanitizer that is 75% alcohol, with a plan to produce 100,000 gallons per week.

The hand sanitizer is being produced at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County, New York through a business called Corcraft, which describes itself as “an entity within the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.”

Historically, New York inmates were paid an average of 65 cents per hour for their work with Corecraft, which activists have described as “slave labor.”

(https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/09/new-york-is-making-hand-sanitizer-with-prison-labor.html)


100,000 gallons!  Per week!!

If my calculation is correct (thanks Google), that's just shy of 13 MILLION ounces of "NYS Clean" (a product name which has nearly-zero originality or character).  Per week!!


I surely hope the inmates are paid more than 65 cents per hour.  If that's true, what a crock!


Grace & Peace & Love to you all -

Matt