VALLE CRUCIS, NC – More than a year after Hurricane Helene made its way through the mountains, Western North Carolina continues recovery activities. Mast Store’s Mountain Strong Fund is supporting those efforts with donations to the Barefoot Baby Foundation ($2,500) and the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country ($15,000).
“Things keep getting better every day,” said Lisa Cooper, president of Mast General Store, “but we still have a long way to go. Roads are being repaired, homes rebuilt, and debris has been hauled away, but families and businesses are still struggling to get back to normal.”
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 are helping one of Mast Store’s vendor partners, Barefoot Baby, a small business based in Marion, with its own efforts to assist its home community’s rebuilding process. The director of the Barefoot Baby Foundation designed Mast Store’s new Recovery Milestone t-shirts.
“Alyssa has been a great partner with us, and she was active in her local community even before Hurricane Helene,” shared Cooper, “The Barefoot Baby Foundation is bringing people together to restore community by building hope in Western North Carolina."
The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country is a beloved community destination. While it endured its own losses resulting from damage to the roof and cancellation of shows after Helene, the theatre was also a haven of comfort and connection for local students unable to attend school during the initial recovery phase. It also hosted faculty from Valle Crucis Elementary School as they were exploring options for students to return to the classroom because their school was deemed unsafe.
“The Appalachian Theatre is a special place and holds so many memories for those of us who grew up here. Since its re-opening in 2019, it has experienced major challenges – first COVID, then Helene, just as it was gaining its stride,” said Cooper. “The theatre had more than $120,000 in losses from the storm. We hope this donation from our Mountain Strong Fund will help offset some of those losses and preserve the arts and community spirit that make the High Country so special.”
The Mountain Strong collection of goods continues to grow with each item giving back 20% of its purchase price to the restoration and rebuilding of Western North Carolina.
“It is difficult to express the gratitude we have for the support of our customers and guests,” said Cooper. “It has been overwhelming and needed. We are moving forward every day and appreciate those who are coming to our communities as visitors and volunteers.”
The donation total for the Mountain Strong Fund is $217,500, including the most recent contributions. Recipients include: Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity ($10,000), United Methodist Committee on Relief office for Ashe and Watauga Counties ($10,000 for returning residents to their homes that are safe and secure), 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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