Cam Hunter, an Appalachian sophomore and member of the university’s track and field team from Winston-Salem, poses with cases of bottled water he collected for victims of Hurricane Florence. Photo by Chase Reynolds
BOONE, N.C. — A collaboration between Appalachian State University’s Physical Plant, Athletics department and Marching Mountaineers helped sophomore Cameron “Cam” Hunter deliver 500 cases of bottled water to Wallace and Elizabethtown — areas hit hard by Hurricane Florence — in late September.
A third of the water Hunter collected was delivered to a distribution site at a volunteer fire department in Wallace, and the remainder was taken to the Bladen County Disaster Relief Distribution Center in Elizabethtown, said Bob Smith, manager of Appalachian’s Motor Pool and one of the drivers who delivered the water.
The operation was orchestrated by Pierre Banks ’07 ’09, Appalachian’s director of student-athlete development, who had been in talks with Hunter since he began collecting bottled water on Sept. 14.
“He (Hunter) spoke to somebody in his dorm who was thinking of dropping everything just to go and help,” Banks explained. “So, he felt like, ‘If she can do that, there’s got to be something I can do.’”
Pierre Banks, who helped organize the delivery of the water, loads cases of bottled water onto the Marching Mountaineers trailer. Banks is director of student-athlete development at Appalachian. Photo by Chase Reynolds
For Hunter, a biology major and member of Appalachian’s track and field team from Winston-Salem, the motivation to help those impacted by Hurricane Florence was inspired by a personal connection with such a disaster.
“I had a sister who was in Hurricane Katrina, so I know how hurricanes can affect people,” he said.
When the amount of bottled water donated could no longer fit in Hunter’s dorm room in Bowie Hall — where he is also a resident assistant — Banks found a spot for the water to be stored on the third floor of the Mark E. Ricks Athletics Complex.
Banks worked with the Physical Plant to arrange for a truck and drivers — which included Smith and Tom Graybeal — and Dr. Jay Jackson, associate dean of Appalachian’s Hayes School of Music, provided the Marching Mountaineers trailer to hold all of the cases.
Appalachian student-athletes take a break from their morning workout to help sophomore Cam Hunter load the 416 cases of bottled water he collected, which was stored on the third floor of the Mark E. Ricks Athletics Complex. The Boone Walmart donated another 84 cases to the cause. Photo by Chase Reynolds
With the truck and trailer parked in the Kidd Brewer Stadium concourse the morning of Sept. 27, the process began of moving 416 cases of water from the third floor of the athletics complex to the trailer.
Banks, Hunter and a few other students began by bringing down carts and pallets full of cases, and before long, a line of student-athletes who had been exercising in the athletics complex that morning joined the cause and — hauling a case or two of bottled water — made their way to the concourse.
Once the trailer was loaded, Banks, Hunter and the drivers traveled to the Boone Walmart to pick up 84 more cases of bottled water donated by the store, bringing the total to be delivered to 500 cases. From there, the drivers began the more than four-hour trip to Wallace and Elizabethtown.
“Elizabethtown was running low by the time we arrived at their site,” Smith said. “Both groups were most appreciative for the donation.”
Tom Graybeal, of Appalachian’s Motor Pool, seals the Marching Mountaineers trailer that was filled with cases of bottled water collected by sophomore Cam Hunter. Graybeal and Bob Smith, Motor Pool manager, drove the water to Hurricane Florence relief distribution centers in Elizabethtown and Wallace. Photo by Chase Reynolds
About Mountaineer Athletics
More than 400 student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University, and dedicated fans love to cheer them on. App State's championship football team has enjoyed unprecedented success at the highest level of Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision) with seven bowl wins in its first 10 years at the FBS level and four Sun Belt Conference championships. The Mountaineers were a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years before moving up in 2014. App State student-athletes in all sports pursue daily comprehensive excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. All varsity teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for field hockey (MAC) and wrestling (SoCon). For more, visit https://www.appstatesports.com.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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