Drivers in Western North Carolina will soon have one more way to help raise money for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Beginning Jan. 1, two local convenience stores will donate one penny per gallon of gasoline sold. The proceeds will go to Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a non-profit organization that raises money and provides volunteers to support park projects and programs.

The participating stores include Tiger Mart at Exit 31 off of I-40 in Canton and Casino Mart in Cherokee.

“The Smokies are a special place,” said Andy Jordan, owner of the two convenience stores, “and I want to give my customers an easy way to help preserve and protect our national park.” Jordan estimates that the promotional gasoline sales could raise a total of $20,000 during 2002.

Each store will also promote the state of North Carolina’s Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park license plate. Since their introduction in 1999, the license plates have raised over $100,000 for park projects and programs. The license plate is available any time from any local North Carolina license plate agency office. Of the added fee for the specialty plate, $20 goes to Friends of the Smokies to support Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For more information about Friends of the Smokies, call their Waynesville office at 828.452.0720.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News