With many of our neighbors being unemployed or underemployed and winter on the horizon, there’s even more need to share the warmth and help others to fend off the cold. The Mast General Store is hosting its seventh annual Share the Warmth coat, sweater and blanket collection campaign from now until November 30th.

As we scurry about enjoying the cool days of fall, we all know that colder temperatures are on the way, and many of us are ready to face whatever weather the coming season has to offer. Unfortunately, there are some in our communities who aren’t as prepared.

The Mast General Store, along with Columbia Sportswear, invites you to share the warmth in your community by “sharing” your clean, gently-worn coats, jackets, sweaters, gloves, hats, and even blankets so others can be warm this winter. You can drop off your items at the Original Mast General Store and the Mast Store Annex in Valle Crucis. Your donation to the Original Store will go to the Eastern Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia tornado victims and the Valle Crucis Elementary School, and the Annex will be given to the Hospitality House and Valle Crucis Elementary. Donations at the Boone Mast Store will be given to Green Valley Elementary School as well as to the April 2011 tornado victims.

It was important to us that our community partner have direct access to those in need, said Fred Martin, president of the Mast Store. Our employees, our customers, and Columbia Sportswear are all eager to help our neighbors, so we want to ensure that these coats, jackets, sweaters and blankets will go to individuals who can use them.

For over 26 years, the Hospitality House has provided emergency shelter services and transitional family housing, operates the Bread of Life Community Kitchen, and administers WeCAN  a crisis intervention and homeless prevention program in a seven county region.

Warm items will be given to teachers and staff at Valle Crucis and Green Valley Elementary Schools who will discreetly distribute coats to students they know could use extra layers for warmth this winter.

This past spring, thousands of Eastern Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia residents were permanently displaced when a historic outbreak of tornadoes swept away homes across the region. Countless losses have taken a tremendous toll on folks ravaged by the storms of April 2011 and because of their isolation and the size of their communities, many of their needs remain unmet.

This is the seventh year the Mast Store has undertaken this project to help provide coats for those in need in their home communities, and its the fifth time that Columbia has generously offered their own donation of 326 coats, which will be divided across all Mast Store communities. Our customers are always so helpful when we identify a need. We all have jackets and coats hanging in our closets or in storage that can be put to better use, said Martin. If you can help, please drop off your clean coats, jackets and blankets by November 30th.

The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization.  For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.

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