A Gaithersburg, Maryland, couple is counting on community involvement to help realize their vision of bringing local craft beer to Montgomery County’s essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jen and Josh Bienstock 鈥� who started surprising friends with drop-offs of craft beer from Montgomery County brewers in May to keep in touch under quarantine 鈥� now call themselves The BeerFairiez, a community-based social and networking group.
Together, they’ve launched a as their way of thanking essential workers.
Josh is an attorney in Rockville. Jen is a psychologist, also in Rockville. Both are 31 years old, with a 3-year-old daughter and 8-month-old son. Both have an appreciation for craft brewing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great way to stay connected with friends and family, and this initiative gives us something to feel good about in these crazy times,鈥� Josh told WTOP.
They鈥檝e partnered with Silver Spring-based and , Gaithersburg-based , and Derwood-based , as well as Gaithersburg beer specialists and Beer and the .
The goal is to make surprise drops of beer to first responders and front-line workers. Anyone who wants to get involved can donate funds to sponsor a mixed 4-pack of beer to a first responder or essential workers during the next 30 days.
Donors have the option of donating to a random or specific front-line worker. Suggested donations are $10 to $200. They鈥檒l handle the drops themselves.
Those who receive a 鈥渂eer drop鈥� will also have the chance to pay it forward, and donate a beer drop to another front-line worker.
. Any excess funds will be donated to COVID-19 related charities.
鈥淥ur 3-year-old daughter helps us assemble the drops and takes pictures of them,” Jen said. “She gets very excited when we go to make the drops on the weekends 鈥� it鈥檚 been a great way for us to spend time as a family and show our kids the value of making other people happy.鈥�
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