20% of the Day’s Sales Donated to Foothills Land Conservancy
KNOXVILLE, TN – Land is a finite resource important to the health of our community. On Saturday, June 7, representatives from Foothills Land Conservancy will be at the Mast Store in Knoxville to share information on how land trusts provide habitat for wildlife, open spaces and recreational areas, and help keep family farms in the family. At the end of the day, Mast General Store will make a donation of 20% of the day’s sales in support of its land trust partner.
In the wake of last year’s destructive storm Helene, we have come to realize how quickly the landscape can be changed forever. Land trusts in the Mast Store region are helping with recovery by organizing clean-ups, plantings, and other activities to restore the health of the land and contribute to the mental well-being of those who call it home.
Land trusts are non-profit organizations that work with landowners and other associations to help safeguard our land heritage, create open spaces, protect wetlands and wildlife habitats, and provide recreational opportunities everyone can enjoy.
The Mast Store has a long history of working with land trusts. John and Faye Cooper shared, “The work of land trusts and conservancies benefits everyone – maybe in ways you may not have considered. By protecting wetlands and open spaces, the damage caused by flood waters can be lessened, and when wildlife has preserved habitats, native plants are saved to continue contributing to the biodiversity of the area, and WE have recreational spaces to enjoy.”
John and Faye’s daughter, Lisa Cooper, proudly carries on her parents’ legacy of partnering the family- and employee-owned business with land trusts in her role as president of Mast General Store. She serves with and advocates for land trusts, including Blue Ridge Conservancy where she served on the board of trustees.
“We are so thankful to have been able to give back to our local land trust organizations over the years,” Lisa Cooper said. “With all that Western North Carolina has dealt with since last fall, it makes it even more important to protect our lands.”
She concluded, “Supporting organizations that help preserve our open spaces and land traditions for future generations is a top priority in each of our Mast Store communities.”
Since 1985, Foothills Land Conservancy has preserved more than 200,000 acres of land in 47 Tennessee counties and across six states in the southern Appalachian region through upwards of 500 conservation partnerships. The agency works primarily with landowners who seek to preserve their property as a natural state or a working farm, but it has also preserved the rural character of more than 10,000 acres of land designated for public use.
As both responsible stewards and fortunate beneficiaries of the land that sustains us, the Mast Store joins these local agencies in their ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the natural, irreplaceable places that make our communities more livable, generate local economic opportunities, and tell the story of our home.
Drop by the Mast Store in Knoxville on Saturday, June 7, to meet representatives from your local land trust and discover more about the outdoor spaces it has conserved in your community! For more information, call the Knoxville Mast Store at 865-546-1336.
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ABOUT MAST GENERAL STORE
With its Original Store located in the rural historic district of Valle Crucis, North Carolina, Mast General Store has grown its family to 11 locations in 10 towns across four states - North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Historic locations, a focus on customer service, and an eclectic product selection - everything from old-fashioned candies to technical outdoor gear - make every store a destination. The Mast Store is family- and employee-owned and is passionate about its local communities. Visit mastgeneralstore.com for more information.