BETHEL – A combination of blue skies and top-to-bottom skiing terrain at Sunday River Ski Resort this weekend created an unexpected boon for the Bethel Food Pantry and the 50 area families it serves.

Guests at the Newry resort helped bring in a record number of donations that included more than 3,000 cans of food during the annual two-day Tin Mountain Roundup food drive, according to resort spokesman Alex Kaufman.

People who brought at least three cans of food received $15 off the price of a lift ticket.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Dave Bean, a Bethel Food Pantry volunteer, said in a telephone interview on Thursday afternoon. “It’s like two full-sized pickup trucks filled as high as you can get. Every space we could tuck away food has cans in it to the ceiling.”

Affiliated with the Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn, the Bethel Food Pantry is open year-round.

“I know everyone who uses the food pantry appreciates all the donations. We get this really big hit on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving…. So, when we got the Tin Mountain Roundup, now we can coast through February in terms of canned goods. We’ve got everything you could imagine that could come in a can. I think Sunday River and its new owners, Boyne, are doing great stuff and should be commended,” Bean said.

The Bethel Food Pantry continues to take a items including shampoo, toilet paper, and paper towels, which are in high demand. Those wanting to help should contact Bean at 824-0369. People in the area seeking help from the pantry should call to make an appointment, Bean added.