Stories from Seasonal Workers
Maddy Herr, Ski School Rentals
“I have nothing but respect and admiration for Jeff and Leslie and everything they are doing for the Telluride community. My winter season was a very difficult one, but meeting them had such a positive impact on me. They provided space for comfort, vulnerability, and love, not just for me but for every seasonal worker they met. Their passion for helping people and community building is evident. Adopt-A-Liftie dinners were the highlight of my winter. These dinners consisted of delicious meals, lots of laughs, intentional conversations, and a way to meet people outside of my circle. It was the exact environment I needed. Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel for having crossed paths with Jeff and Leslie - and Beacon all together. The Friday Feasts and game nights at The Well were always nights I looked forward to. As a broke seasonal worker, having a welcoming space to spend time outside of my tiny apartment was so wonderful. The work Beacon does is incredibly impactful, not only for seasonal workers but for the entire Telluride community. I cannot imagine my winter experience without us crossing paths.”
Casey Kaut Managing Director of Mountain Lodge
“We refer to them as “The Beacon Kids.” Mountain Lodge Telluride was blessed this summer with four young people that joined us from the Beacon program for summer employment in the hospitality industry. Grace, Noah, Baker, and Christian worked with us at our front desk and in bell services, and their impact was tremendous. Yes, these four fantastic individuals did in fact work with us, but their collective contribution went well beyond the tasks of the job. Instead, the Beacon Kids provided joy, humour, and inspiration to our entire staff and to the guests who visited us. Each one of these beautiful students brought with them to work an infectious positive attitude, a tireless work ethic, and a joy that was felt by everyone they came in contact with. Within days of Grace, Noah, Baker and Christian starting their employment period, it was apparent that their effort was going to have tremendous impact on the Lodge’s goal of raising service delivery and consistency to new heights. The post-stay surveys began to pour in, and the exceptional positive feedback for our Beacon Kids became the standard by which the rest of the staff here will now forever be measured. These kids raised the bar for service, but more importantly, they demonstrated through example how to handle our guests with friendliness, warmth, and genuine enthusiasm. I have never in my career seen a group of young people make an impact like what occurred this summer with our Beacon Kids. Just last week I woke up for work and realized that my heart hurt a bit because I knew that it was going to be day without Grace, who had just departed to return to school. I know that all of us here at Mountain Lodge will seek to stay in touch with all four of our new friends, and their time with us resulted in countless cherished memories and a better operation overall. Thanks to Jeff and the folks with Beacon for bringing these kids into our lives. We are all better for having spent time with them.”
David Miller, Liftie
“As someone that has been doing seasonal work for a while, winters can be tough. Recently I have found myself tired of the relentless party culture that comes along with seasonal life and wanted something more fulfilling. Beacon has had such a positive effect on my winter in Telluride by providing a welcoming community based on Christian principles. I first learned about Beacon through Friday Feasts, which gave me something to look forward to every two weeks. It was so nice to have a place to enjoy a delicious warm meal and meet other people in the community. At the beginning of the season, I was unsure of my faith. However, after being continually welcomed at The Alpine Chapel through community events, I decided to attend the young adults Bible study group. This really changed the course of the rest of my season and brought me to light with God. This group really helped me feel at home in Telluride. They offered me a casual and friendly environment to learn about God even though I was skeptical at first. After a while I started to really look forward to these events, as I always learned something new, met great people and ate incredible food.”
