VALLE CRUCIS, NC – Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene blew through the mountains, Mast Store’s Mountain Strong Fund continues to support recovery efforts with $10,000 donations to both Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and the United Methodist Committee on Relief office for Ashe and Watauga Counties.
“It’s amazing the power that a t-shirt can have,” said Lisa Cooper, president of Mast General Store. “We started selling our Mountain Strong shirts and stickers in October last year with 20% of the proceeds going to help with rebuilding and recovery. Today, we have made contributions totaling $200,000. Our deepest appreciation goes to people across the region and the country who are wearing Mountain Strong shirts and proudly displaying the stickers.”
Contributions from Mast Store’s Mountain Strong Fund have helped with streambank restoration, small business assistance, and home rebuilding in Western North Carolina.
The latest contributions will help residents get back into their homes after needed repairs.
“We are so grateful for Mast General Store’s recent $10,000 donation from their Mountain Strong Fund,” said Andy Barnett, CEO of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. “Almost a year post-storm, the region has made great strides, but much work remains. This gift supports our ongoing home building and repair efforts and acknowledges that the road to recovery is long. Asheville Habitat is here for the duration. The Mast General Store has been there for many area nonprofits, in good times and bad, and we are most appreciative. Together, we will ensure our community thrives again.”
The United Methodist Committee on Relief has been hard at work in the Asheville area getting people back in their homes that are safe, sanitary, and secure. The organization also has offices serving Mitchell, Yancey, and Avery Counties, and is opening one to serve Watauga and Ashe Counties now.
>Doug Uzelac, one of the volunteer construction coordinators for the Disaster Ministries for Western North Carolina shared, “All of our work is completely volunteer supported, and we will be working on creating a local database of volunteers who can help fill in when there are gaps in visiting labor teams.”
Using volunteer labor will stretch the recent contribution even further.
“We are thankful for the continuing support and love shown by our customers and guests,” said Cooper, “but this recovery is going to be more of a marathon than a sprint.
“I heard someone from the New Morning Gallery in Asheville say that they look at anyone who walks into their gallery as a relief worker. It is so true. All businesses in the mountains need locals and visitors to come through our doors to continue our forward momentum. Choosing to shop downtown and eat at your favorite restaurant is the fuel for the recovery.”
Mountain Strong apparel, including a new milestone design, and stickers are still available at Mast Stores for those wishing to purchase and show support for the mountain communities, and they are making an impact every day on the future of Western North Carolina.
The donation total for the Mountain Strong Fund is $200,000, including the most recent contributions. Recipients include: MANNA FoodBank ($10,000 – to continue their mission to end hunger in 16 mountain counties), RiverLink ($10,000 – for riverbank stabilization and repairs to parks), Valle Crucis School Parent Teacher Student Organization ($10,000 - to help teachers reassemble their teaching aids), Boone Area Chamber Foundation ($20,000 - helping small businesses in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties recover), Downtown Spruce Pine ($20,000 - a Main Street organization helping small businesses get back on their feet), MountainTrue ($25,000 – an organization that advocates for clean waters, resilient forests, and health communities), BeLoved Asheville ($20,000 – a community working to create Home, Health, Equity, and Opportunity for all in our mountain home), Asheville Chamber for Small Businesses ($20,000 – this group is helping small businesses who may not qualify for other funds get back on their feet), River Arts District Foundation ($20,000 – helping restore the creative heart of Asheville), and Boone Area Chamber Small Business Grants ($25,000 – helping businesses in Watauga County recover from loss of business and infrastructure).
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