At our regular Club meeting on August 27, 2026, we heard from Drew Roberts, founder of Slopes to Hope. Roberts moved from Wisconsin to Colorado in 2022. In the short time since, he has served as the President of the Breckenridge Rotary Club, Area Director and Rotary Alliance Chair for Toastmasters District 26 and founded the Tenmile Toastmasters Club in Frisco. He recently founded Slopes to Hope, a non-profit inspired by working at ski resorts and attending Rotary meetings. Slopes to Hope collects clothing left by guests in Summit County hotel rooms and delivers the clothing to homeless shelters along the Front Range. In doing so, the charity not only keeps clothes out of Summit County landfills but also provides hope to people who are struggling.
The concept has taken off. After only a few years of operation, Slopes to Hope now delivers over 3000 lbs. of clothing per week. It receives clothing from 23 donor organizations and delivers the clothing to 28 recipient organizations.
Right now, Slopes to Hope is basically a one-man operation. As one might imagine, it keeps Drew pretty busy. Each week, Roberts loads his vehicle in Breckenridge, often with a U-Haul trailer attached, and personally makes the clothing deliveries along the Front Range. The operation currently has gross revenues of around $17k per year and expenses of around $14k per year. However, Roberts believes that the concept could expand to virtually any resort area, such as other mountain towns or beach towns. Slopes to Hope has recently added pillows and dishes to what they collect and distribute, but some recipients do not accept such items.
Roberts is seeking advisors, mentors and sponsors for his fledgling charity. The group spent some time brainstorming about people and organizations he might contact and ways he might raise funds. It is a promising charity in its very early stages. For more information about Slopes to Hope or to get involved, you can visit their website at Slopes to Hope – Reducing Waste and Fostering Hope.