SAM (Ski Area Management) is collecting stories of how ski resorts are working to help their communities.
ASPEN SKICO COMMUNITY EFFORTS
The team at Aspen Skiing Company has jumped into a variety of efforts to support the local community amidst the challenges caused by the pandemic.
Staff are volunteering in a variety of community support roles. The event operations team is managing a weekly food drive through the month of April, while two additional employees are running point for a food delivery service to senior residents of Aspen and Carbondale. An additional group of staff are volunteering with Pitkin County to assist with emergency financial relief requests.
The mountain is also donating to the local community, including $1,000 and $5,000 donations to Foodbank of the Rockies and Aspen Family Connections, respectively. Ski patrol donated a variety of medical-grade masks to the local hospital, and has gloves at the ready should the hospital need them. Additionally, the purchasing department ordered 1,000 diapers for local families in need who were unable to source some during this time.
The resort and the Little Nell have collectively donated thousands of pounds of food to staff and local organizations in need, as well as rolls of toilet paper and bottles of hand sanitizer. The head of purchasing and the ski school team worked together to send snacks to nonprofits and schools that are serving meals to kids.
MT. SHASTA TO DONATE PORTION OF PASS SALES TO FOOD BANKS
Mt. Shasta Ski Park in Northern California launched its annual season pass sale this spring—with a twist.
On Friday, April 3, the mountain unveiled plans to donate 10 percent of the revenue from season pass sales during the month of April, up to $5,000, to two local food banks that are supporting the local community during the COVID-19 crisis. The Siskiyou Community Food Bank and The Food Bank distributions at Dignity Health Connected Living provide services to both local individuals and other local support agencies.
GREEK PEAK MOUNTAIN RESORT GETS CREATIVE WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Greek Peak Mountain Resort in upstate New York has gotten creative in its efforts to support the local community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mountain has opened the Greek Peak Community Grocery Store to members of the surrounding community to help ensure basic needs are met. The store offers both food and non-food items in addition to pre-cooked meals for 1-2 people, available for $4.99.
The mountain has also launched a new pizza delivery service, dubbed “Trax2Go,” and took advantage of the opportunity to spread a little joy during this tough time by sending its drivers our in dinosaur costumes. “Dino Delivery” has become a popular request for locals ordering food.
MOUNTAIN CREEK HELPS LOCAL BUSINESSES OBTAIN LOANS
Mountain Creek has offered its professional services to help local businesses navigate the application processes for federal and state assistance. The resort is providing free consultation and guidance as to what relief efforts are available and would make most sense for each individual business. So far, 25 businesses have signed up for help; Mountain Creek hopes to aid as many as 100. "The government passed the largest stimulus bill in history, and very small businesses might miss the opportunity to save themselves if we don't help. This pandemic will hurt all of our communities if we don't help. This is somethinig that each resort or anchor business can be doing right now," said Joe Hession, Snow Operating CEO.