On Valentine’s Day, we all want to do something thoughtful for our sweethearts. Why not double up and help someone you don’t even know have a hot, nourishing meal? It’s so easy!

This is the 14th year for Be a Sweetheart. The event was founded in 2004 when a need to fill their pantries was communicated by our food security partners. In the beginning, Mast Store matched each pound of candy purchased with our own pound of food. Then, because of the ability of our food banks and food rescue partners to stretch a dollar into more, Mast Store began donating $1 for each pound purchased. It was a natural tie-in to link Valentine’s Day, when many of us do something nice for someone we love, to supporting efforts to feed a desperate need in our communities.

Harvest Hope Food Bank is our food partner in Columbia, S.C. In Richland County, more than one in six individuals faces food insecurity, and one in four children face hunger on a daily basis. Harvest Hope provides meals for approximately 38,000 individuals each week.

This past year, Harvest Hope received $5,000 from the TEGNA Foundation to provide for the Pack-2-Feed program. This program provides low and moderate income families with boxes that contain 21 servings of food. The TEGNA grant provided over 10,000 meals for those struggling with hunger.

“It surprises people that so many of their neighbors go hungry, especially in one of the more well-off counties in the state,” said Denise Holland, CEO of Harvest Hope. “Grants like this are critical to helping families who are in crises gain some stability and to ensure that children don’t go to sleep hungry.”

In addition to Mast Store’s donation, change collection jars will be positioned at each register. Even a few coins can have life changing effects. Our partners’ ability to stretch any donation is proof positive that a little can do A LOT! This year’s Be a Sweetheart event is coming up on Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12.

Click HERE to find out more about how you can get involved with the worthy efforts of the Harvest Hope Food Bank.
 

Be A Sweetheart 2017 from Mast Store on Vimeo.