Seemingly overnight, the global COVID-19 pandemic has upended our daily lives. Simple things we took for granted, such as store shelves and warehouses stocked with cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer, healthcare workers and first responders well-equipped with personal proactive equipment to stay safe while doing their jobs, and ample supplies of medicine, are now commodities in short supply. In Summit County, our community’s ethos is one of taking care of each other – our neighbors, friends, businesses, and visitors. So, it should come as no surprise that several of local businesses are stepping up in extraordinary ways to help support the community during the COVID-19 emergency.

With personal protective equipment in limited supply for healthcare workers and first responders, Lowe’s in Silverthorne has donated over 300 N95 face masks, 600 pairs of rubber gloves, 600 spray bottles, as well as gallons of bleach to supplement local supplies.

“All of us at Lowe's in Silverthorne want to support the local COVID-19 emergency response in any way we can,” store manager Bobbi Meyer said. “We have thoroughly enjoyed being in a position to help, especially because our associates are impacted in Summit and neighboring counties.”

In addition to donating supplies, Lowe's has utilized their delivery trucks to move materials from the Strategic National Stockpile in Steamboat Springs to Grand, Eagle, and Summit counties. Strategic National Stockpiles, often abbreviated, SNS, are supplies, medicines, and devices for providing lifesaving care stored at secure locations all over the country and positioned to deliver critical supplies quickly.

Another commodity in short supply is hand sanitizer. Breckenridge Distillery, primarily known for manufacturing whisky, vodka, and other spirits, has modified their production line to support local needs.

“Community is the foundation of who we are at Breckenridge Distillery,” Breckenridge Distillery Marketing Manager Jessie Unruh said. “Our ability to shift our production efforts into manufacturing hand sanitizer puts us in a unique position to supplement limited local supplies. We want to help keep Summit Sanitized.”

Breckenridge Distillery has filled over 300 large spray bottles of sanitizer for use by emergency operations personnel and is providing personal-sized bottles to the community at its headquarters on Airport Road in Breckenridge. The distillery is constantly adjusting their production process to align with the most current recommendations and regulations for hand sanitizer.

 The Silverthorne Lowe's and Breckenridge Distillery are just two examples among many local businesses exemplifying Summit County’s generous spirit and giving back to the community during this turbulent time. Be sure to check out the Community Resources and Assistance page of our website to learn more about food, meal, mental health support, financial, and other resources available during the COVID-19 emergency.