For every pound of candy sold at local Mast Stores on Saturday, Feb. 12, a pound of food will be given to the food bank serving either Asheville, Waynesville, Hendersonville, Boone, Valle Crucis or Greenville.

Last year Mast customers purchased 2,000 pounds of candy, which translated into a ton of nutritious food going to the organizations that help those facing hunger.

Information from the food banks will be available to explain how they work. For instance, MANNA Food Bank provides food to 20 member agencies in Haywood County including The Open Door, Good Samaritan Clinic, Haywood Restoration Home, and Grace Episcopal Church Food Pantry.

Mast Store shoppers are also encouraged to bring donations of canned food and peanut butter with them on Valentine’s Day. For more information on how you can “Be a Sweetheart,” visit maststore.com.