February 12, 2009 Issue
Sixth Annual Be a Sweetheart…Feed the Hungry Saturday and Sunday
Candy Purchases at Mast General Store Benefit Hunger and Health Coalition
Someone special is usually on people’s minds as Valentine’s Day approaches. In celebration of a relationship, couples usually exchange gifts and cards and oftentimes enjoy a wonderful meal. But others may not be lucky enough to share a hot, nutritious meal with someone they love. To help everyone have a meal, Mast General Store is partnering with the Hunger and Health Coalition to raise awareness of hunger in Watauga County with its sixth annual Be a Sweetheart...Feed the Hungry event on Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15.
Mast General Store will contribute $1 for each pound of candy purchased on February 14 and 15. And this year’s Be a Sweetheart campaign has two additional components: a raffle for gift baskets and spare change collection. Raffle tickets will be for sale in each Mast Store location for $1, with all proceeds going to the Hunger and Health Coalition.
According the most recent reports, in December 2008, 129 new clients received assistance from the Hunger and Health Coalition. Of the 1,426 clients served in December, one-third of them were younger than 18. Hunger assistance agencies throughout the country are seeing large increases in applications for assistance, and those applications are often outpacing their ability to provide help.
Fred Martin, vice president of the Mast General Store, commented, “Our Be a Sweetheart…Feed the Hungry event has helped provide food to the food banks serving our local communities at a time when donations are at a lower level. After the holidays, donations tend to wane, and in these challenging economic times, we need to help our neighbors whenever we can.”
Martin continued, “It is just amazing what these organizations can do with a dollar. With the help of donations and several supermarkets and vendors, spare change can feed a person three hot, healthy meals. Any amount can help.”
In addition to staple foods, the Hunger and Health Coalition also “rescues” food from local restaurants to add variety to its typical fare. Like many nonprofit organizations, the Hunger and Health Coalition relies on volunteers and donations for much of its success. There are many opportunities to get involved on a personal or group level, as well as to learn how you can fight hunger in the community. Find out more at the organization’s website at www.hungercoalition.com.
For more information on how you can Be a Sweetheart, call the Hunger and Health Coalition at 828-262-1628 or the Mast Store in Valle Crucis at 828-963-6511 or in Boone at 828-262-0000.
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