Harvey Mast's effort leads to many sharing through abundance
Harvey's Market owner Harvey Mast, center, shares some positive words with those shopping at his market. His produce store is open to anyone in need, and he is selling items produced by himself or donated by others.
Harvey Mast wasn’t looking to make money, create fame or make a name for Harvey’s Market when he first began to offer his goods to anyone in need at his store.
His only aim was to do what he felt led to do by God.
That effort has led to a true blessing for many people during very trying times, and one need only listen to the gratitude and heartfelt thanks Mast receives from many of those who stop in at Harvey’s Market to either drop items off or to take what they need.
It is yet another example of how humanity is shining through these troubling times in which COVID-19 has gripped the world and the community.
“Sometimes God calls us to do something and we actually just stumble on to things that are in God’s heart, and we are lucky and privileged to be able to be blessed and bless others when we listen,” Mast said.
Mast said while the idea stemmed from him following where he felt led, it has been the generosity of the community that has allowed the market to serve many.
Facing financial difficulties this winter due to some of his largest producers not paying their bills, Mast ended up not paying himself and taking out a loan to stay afloat. Through those trying times, he created Harvey’s Mobile, an extension of his store in which he takes goods throughout the community, much like traveling salesman of yore.
Harvey’s Mobile began with a semi-tractor trailer loaded with Yellow Delicious apples. He couldn’t move the apples to wholesalers, even at cost, so he decided to try a home-by-home approach locally.
“Sometimes we are looking faraway at the big picture and we miss what God has put right in front of us,” Mast said. “I felt God asking me to do something that was right in front of me.”
It was a matter of looking at things differently for Mast, who set up shelves inside his smallest truck, purchasing produce and going door to door.
“I remembered doing that with my dad when I was a kid,” Mast said.
What happened was stunning.
“I’d say 98 percent of the people I went to begged me to come back and to continue the program,” Mast said.
Fast-forward to this spring with every single apple from that load sold. One week before everything began to shut down due to the COVID-19 threat, Mast made his final run.
What was left was a hodgepodge of produce and other items. While he had a wholesaler who would purchase it for a small amount, he felt drawn to go another route as people began hoarding items for what appeared to be a long stay at home for many.
“I felt as the panic set in and people started to think about themselves and their own needs, we were responding exactly opposite of what God does,” Mast said. “Jesus’ response was generosity in the face of adversity. He gave, not out of fear or obligation, but because that was the way God told us to live. We are to become infected with love and generosity that can become the cure. That was where it started.”
Still with bills to pay, Mast decided rather than selling the remainder of his Harvey’s Mobile stash to a wholesaler to instead offer it to those in need. He said because God has that giving heart and we are God’s children, why not follow that lead and think of others first?
Mast felt that rather than hoarding selfishly, the community could focus on sharing gladly and gratefully. He quickly shared that message of hope and let people know his market was a place for people to find what they might need and also to give what they might share with others through abundance.
“It is one way that we can help people get through a crisis,” Mast said. “If this is the long-term crisis that it seems to be, we are going to have to learn to be generous. We have to repurpose the things we do, most likely using the things right in front of us.”
Mast said what remained of his produce was available to those in need, and he was pleased to see others were bringing in items they had that they felt they could afford to do without. His act of kindness has led many to follow suit, and rather than hoarding, which seems like a natural response, he has seen others share.
Mast has a donation box at his market where shoppers can leave funds, if they so choose, which he will turn around and use to purchase more produce for people. He had one friend bring in several large boxes of elderberry syrup. Others brought in canned goods and household items.
“My friend isn’t on Facebook, but he got a message from his daughter in Texas, who had seen the post, and he said he was genuinely touched and wanted to help,” Mast said.
So it began with a row of elderberry syrup and has steadily grown from there. People have been generous with items and donations, which have provided the goods for those in need.
Harvey’s Market exists, but in a very unique way that it never existed before.
Mast said this goes well beyond he and his wife Monica. He said it is an extension of God’s grace and generosity through others who have seen purpose in helping others. He said they have simply provided the space for others to be good stewards.
“I don’t know where it is going or how long it will be needed,” Mast said. “I have been brought to tears many times through people’s generosity, the gratefulness and caring people have shown. I think it is our true nature to want to give and help others in need and now is a good time to prove that. Life is the most fulfilling when we give in abundance, and I believe that is where God wants us to live.”
Harvey’s Market is located at 12636 state Route 39, exactly 9 miles west of Millersburg.