On September 7, the Mast Store in Columbia will host volunteers from the Palmetto Conservation Foundation to share their mission with guests and, at the end of the day, will donate 10 percent of the day’s sales to support their efforts.

Founded in 1989, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation’s goal is to conserve the State of South Carolina’s natural environment while making it accessible. The group’s most well-known project is the Palmetto Trail, which starts in the mountains of the Upstate and winds its way along creeks and streams, through pastures and swamps, through Revolutionary War battlefields, and through cities and small towns. Around 350 miles of the 500-mile-long trail are now complete, offering hiking and biking opportunities within two hours’ drive of any part of the state.

Most recently, trail coordinators have completed a new boardwalk on the Waterfall Loop of the Blue Wall Passage in the Upstate. The structure helps hikers navigate a boggy area near the end of the lake. The Trail is designated a federal Millennium Legacy Trail and is one of 16 cross-state trails in the United States.

“We hope you’ll join us at the stores on Friends’ Day,” said Lisa Cooper, president of Mast Store. “These groups are contributing to our communities in so many ways – adding to the quality of life of residents, enticing visitors to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us, telling our collective stories, and being a vital part of our local economic engine.”

Guests are also invited to round up their purchases on September 7 to make a direct donation to the Palmetto Conservation Foundation.

To learn more about the many activities of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation and how you can support them, stop by their table at the Mast Store in Columbia and click over to their website at www.palmettoconservation.org.