Mast General Store’s annual Be a Sweetheart event, which raises funds for local food banks, is scheduled for Feb. 14–15.
For the past 23 years, Mast General Store has matched each pound of bulk candy purchased during Sweetheart weekend with a $1 donation to its local food security partner. Harvest Hope Food Bank can stretch each donated dollar into as many as four meals for clients in need.
“With candy being one of the most gifted items on Valentine’s Day, we saw an opportunity to raise awareness of the need to support our food security partners and tie it to gifts for loved ones,” said Lisa Cooper, president of Mast General Store.
According to the Food Research and Action Center, nearly 48 million Americans experienced food insecurity in 2024, including 14.1 million children. The Southern region continues to face higher rates of food insecurity than other parts of the country, with 15 percent of households experiencing hunger in 2023.
“Harvest Hope Food Bank and all of our food security partners are seeing increased demand for their services,” Cooper said. “We are grateful they are able to stretch donations and volunteer support to do more than we can do ourselves.”
In conjunction with Be a Sweetheart weekend, Mast General Store will also offer customers the opportunity to roundUP their purchases to the next dollar to benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank from Feb. 9–15.
Over the past five years, Mast General Store and its customers have contributed more than $53,000 to food security partners through the Be a Sweetheart campaign.
Community members are encouraged to join Mast General Store and Harvest Hope Food Bank in the fight against hunger by visiting the Main Street location in downtown Columbia this Valentine’s weekend.
