The Central Oregon Community Action Agency Network (COCAAN) food warehouse is again full, thanks to the generous donations of skiers and snowboarders who traded 26,780 pounds of food for 6,800 Mt. Bachelor lift tickets.
Volunteers from the National Guard and the Deschutes County Juvenile Center, with help from the Knott Landfill and U.S. Postal Service, spent a snowy Friday loading and weighing all of the donations.
The weight of the food donated at the 14th annual Free Ski Day is likely a record, surpassing the amounts given each of the previous three years. All donated food will stay in Central Oregon to help the needy of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties.
Mt. Bachelor spokesman Chris Johnston said the resort is thrilled with the results of this event, but wants to make sure credit is given where it is due.
“Our donation of $240,000 worth of lift tickets is substantial, but this food drive could not happen without the help of the volunteers,” he said. “If the National Guard or Juvenile Center didn’t or couldn’t provide the manpower, there would be no food drive.”
Johnston also reminded people that giving should not be a one-time occurrence.
“The COCAAN staff say this donation is huge, yet their warehouse will be empty again in just a few weeks. Everyone should visit www.cocaan.org to find other ways of helping the needy of Central Oregon.”
Mt. Bachelor is in the Cascade Mountain Range just 22 miles southwest of Bend, Oregon. Ski Magazine readers again ranked Mt. Bachelor’s lifts best in North America. TransWorld Snowboard magazine readers rate Mt. Bachelor one of the Top 5 resorts in North America. 3,683 acres of terrain surround the classic cone-shaped peak of 9,065 feet. Mt. Bachelor receives 350 inches of light, dry snow each year.
For more information please visit www.mtbachelor.com or call 800-829-2442.
