Buying clothes treated with insect repellent can drive away bugs and attract funds for Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail thanks to Greensboro-based Insect Shield.  The company has announced it will donate 10% of the value of any online purchases of its products by Friends of the MST members, or their friends.

“We share with Friends the goal of encouraging people to get outdoors more,” said Jayson Griffin, president of Insect Shield International.  “We’re pleased to join the team of MST partners.”

In July 2003, after seven years of testing, Insect Shield introduced the first EPA-registered insect repellent apparel.  Wearing clothing treated with permethrin provides protection against mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges through 70 launderings, according to the company’s webpage.

Insect Shield apparel categories include outdoor, pet, work wear, hunting, fishing and equestrian. The international company provided treated clothing to some countries at the Olympics in Rio.

“The battle against bugs can be ongoing for day and long-distance MST hikers and our trail workers,” said Kate Dixon, Friends of the MST’s executive director.  “That makes Insect Shield such a good fit.  We invite our members and friends to explore their product benefits and at the same time raise funds for construction and maintenance of the trail.”

Insect Shield is offering two opportunities for Friends to use their products – purchase apparel already treated or send in their own apparel to be treated.  Insect Shield will donate 10% of sales generated from either option to support Friends work. To shop their existing product line, use this link, which takes you to the MST affiliate page.

To treat your own clothes, use the MST store here.  There is a login page, and to enter, the username is mountains and password is sea.