Skiers dig deep for food bank
(Photo courtesy SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT) Bonner Community Food Bank Executive Director Debbie Love, left, accepts a $7,442 check from Tom Chasse, right, CEO of Schwetizer Mountain Resort. The money was raised during the resort's annual passholder party for the food bank.
SANDPOINT — Schweitzer Mountain Resort passholders and guests raised $7,442 in donations for the Bonner Community Food Bank during a silent auction that was held during closing weekend.
“In the past, we have had a can food drive, offering discounted lift tickets in exchange for canned food items,” said Schweitzer President & CEO, Tom Chasse. “But in the end, we realized, what good would hundreds of cans of black olives or pickled onions really do for the food bank? Wouldn’t it be better to get them cash so they can buy the items they need?”
With that in mind, the resort organized a variety of items for the silent auction including the coveted “Name Your Own Run” being one of the prizes.
“We were blown away by the generosity of our Schweitzer family,” said Chasse. “The silent auction raised $7,442 and we can’t thank our Schweitzer friends and fans for contributing as much as they did to this great local organization.”
“This is a challenging time of year for us,” said Debbie Love, executive director of the Bonner Community Food Bank. “Our shelves are bare but the need is high. This donation is amazing and will enable us to provide over 20,000 meals to our local families.”
According to Chasse, the success of the silent auction was a great way to finish a solid winter season at Schweitzer. “Overall, the resort saw a strong turnout for skier visits during the four-month period and we closed out the season with a season snowfall total of 332” recorded in the village. The passion that our community of passholders and guests brought with them to the mountain this year, right on up to closing, was amazing. All in all, one for the record books.”