BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State football players had the opportunity to serve in the High Country for the Week of the Young Child last week. Partnering with the Children's Council of Watauga County, members of the team spent time with young children and families to recognize the importance of early learning and development for kids.
The Children's Council of Watauga County benefits the early childhood system in the local community. The organization believes in supporting young children while educating and inspiring them daily.
On Tuesday the week kicked off at Clawson-Burnley Park where student-athletes helped sell tamales to support the Children's Council. Head coach
Scott Satterfield spoke at Wednesday's Breakfast of Champions.
On Friday several groups of players read books and played games with children at the Children's Playhouse.
The week finished up Saturday at the National Guard Armory for the Children and Baby Fair where the student-athletes helped set up, break down and run several booths.
"It was a good opportunity to give back to the community and interact with kids," said
Noah Hannon, the Mountaineers' starting center. "It was a relaxed environment where we got to do some painting, play in a sand box with them. I met a kid who's a fan who looked over at his mom and said, 'We have to go to all the games this fall,' so that was pretty cool."
While App State student-athletes have always been integral in the life of the local community, they have been especially active in 2017-18. According to Director of Student-Athlete Development
Pierre Banks, a former Mountaineer football player himself, App student-athletes have logged more than 2,000 hours of community service this academic year, doubling their total from the previous year.
Among the projects in which football players are planning to volunteer this summer are building houses for Habitat for Humanity and serving at a local vacation bible school.
