Killington Play It Forward Fund Donates $50,000 to Create 100% Locally Sourced Farm-to-Trunk Food Giveaway Thursday, September 3, 2020

KILLINGTON, Vt. (Aug. 26, 2020) – Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in Eastern North America and a POWDR company, today announced a Farm-to-Trunk Community Grocery Giveaway happening on Thursday, September 3 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., or until all 700 bags have been given away, at Pico Mountain, 73 Alpine Drive, Mendon, Vermont. The 100% locally sourced grocery giveaway is in partnership with VFFC and funded by a $50,000 donation from the Killington Play It Forward Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation to VFFC, Thomas Dairy, and Vermont Farmstead.

“We realize farmers have lost much of their distribution network with restaurants in the state running at reduced capacity, so we’re excited to partner with Vermont Farmers Food Center and provide products purchased directly from local Vermont farms,” says Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain. “By supporting our local farms and those experiencing food insecurities, we hope to strengthen our community and inspire others to take action.”

In mid-March, Killington donated food from the resort’s kitchens to employees and ambassadors. Since then, Killington has continued to feed staff and the community through food giveaways in partnership with the Town of Killington and Castleton University with plans to make an additional $50,000 donation to expand on monthly food insecurity programs.

The Farm-to-Trunk Food Giveaway will include 100% locally sourced products through VFFC including:

• Milk from Thomas Dairy (Rutland, VT)
• Vegetables from Evening Song Farm (Shrewsbury, VT), Yoder Farm (Danby, VT), Boardman Hill Farm (Rutland, VT), Otter Point Farm (West Haven, VT) and Singing Cedars Farm (Orwell, VT)
• Yogurt from Larson Farm and Creamery (Wells, VT)
• Eggs, bacon and ground beef from Windy Meadows (Whitehall, NY)
• Ground beef from Squier Family Farm (Tinmouth, VT) and Davis Farms (West Rutland, VT)
• Sweet corn from Brown’s Orchard and Farmstand (Castleton, VT)
• Goat milk feta cheese and yogurt from Ice House Farm (Goshen, VT)
• Honey and maple syrup from Elmore Mountain Maple Works (North Chittenden, VT) and Brookside Estate (Orwell, VT)
• Bread from Ooh La La Bakery and Creperie (Chittenden, VT)
• Garlic from Quill Hill Farm (Poultney, VT)
• Cheese from Vermont Farmstead (Windsor, VT)
• Flour from King Arthur Baking Company (Norwich, VT)

“With Covid-19, our farm is looking at a 50% income loss due to the cancelation of all festivals and events,” says Laura Ramos of Quill Hill Farm. “Working with Killington and VFFC on the ‘Farm-to-Trunk’ project has allowed us an outlet to sell a large volume of product and get it into the hands and mouths of local Vermonters that need it most. It is always wonderful to work with organizations like this that can navigate the distribution of local food systems – something that we desperately need more of in our community.”

“Elmore Mountain Maple Works is pleased to have been chosen to participate in this program that is helping so many families in the Killington area,” says John Bodin of Elmore Mountain Maple Works. “For a small, local family business, this is a wonderful way for us to introduce ourselves to the community and we are very grateful for the opportunity to support the VFFC’s work.”

"The pandemic exposed the fragility of the US food system and the need to strengthen the local food network,” says Rich Larson of Larson Farm and Creamery. “Thank you to the Killington 'Farm-to-Trunk' project for introducing area families to quality locally-produced foods.”

WHERE

Pico Mountain
73 Alpine Drive, Mendon, Vermont

WHEN

Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. or when all 700 bags are given out (whichever comes first)

WHO

Those in local communities facing food insecurities (included but not limited to Killington, Rutland, Mendon, Bridgewater, Pittsfield, Plymouth, and Woodstock)

Killington Resort’s Play It Forward Fund was established at the Vermont Community Foundation with a $350,000 gift from the Cumming Foundation, and John and David Cumming. POWDR, an adventure lifestyle company founded by John Cumming, owns Killington and Pico and implemented Play It Forward funds at each of its mountain resorts across North America. The family and foundation’s gifts, totaling $2.25M across the funds, are in support of POWDR businesses helping their local communities in this tremendous time of need and beyond. Killington’s Play It Forward Fund was established to provide funding in support of our community successfully navigating challenging times and continuing to thrive for generations to come.

Learn more about Play It Forward here.

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About Killington Resort
Killington Resort is a four-season destination sitting on 3,000 acres in the heart of Central Vermont’s Green Mountains. The Beast of the East boasts 92 miles of diverse snow sports terrain spread across six peaks including Pico Mountain, served by the most expansive lift network and snowmaking system in Eastern North America. After the snow melts, Killington features an 18-hole championship golf course, the family-friendly Snowshed Adventure Center, 15 miles of scenic hiking trails, and the largest Bike Park in the East with 35 miles of mountain biking trails designed by Gravity Logic. The seemingly infinite après, dining, and lodging options have made Killington a world-class destination for East Coast adventure enthusiasts for over 55 years. Killington is part of the POWDR Adventure Lifestyle Co. portfolio. Visit www.killington.com for more information and be social with #beast365.

About Vermont Farmers Food Center
Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC) began as a grassroots, volunteer- led project and is spearheading the rebuilding of infrastructure necessary for agriculture to serve as a regional economic engine through the development of 2.93 acres of industrially zoned land with four existing buildings in the heart of Downtown Rutland. VFFC increases access to and availability of locally produced food in the Rutland Region by expanding markets and market access, aggregation, and distribution of locally produced and value added agricultural products. VFFC is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in Rutland, Vermont, in 2012.