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Eight Appalachian State Students to Bring Clean Water to Honduras This Summer

This summer, a group of eight Appalachian State students will travel to Honduras to work in a remote community alongside the Mosquito Coast.  During this 10-day adventure in Central America, the students will help build and repair wells, teach hygiene and sanitation skills to the locals, and participate in community outreach activities.

The team is made up of Corey Belden, junior Management major, Raleigh Derrow, sophomore Marketing major, Garrett Draughn, junior Building Sciences major, Taylor Lewis, sophomore Management major, Hannah Margolis, sophomore Sociology major, Victoria Potter, senior Public Relations major, Kylie Winkelmann, sophomore Exercise Science major, and Savannah Yarish, sophomore Management major, joined by their adviser, Robin Waters. Waters is also a native to the area and currently serves as the Executive Assistant for the Enrollment Management department at Appalachian State.

This group represents ASU Wine To Water, a student club that strives to support the local nonprofit Wine To Water in its efforts to provide clean water to people in need.

Of this group, Belden, Margolis, Potter and Winkelmann were first inspired by Wine To Water’s mission when the founder, Doc Hendley, spoke at a special assembly at Watauga High School.   Draughn, Margolis, Potter and Waters also served last May in the Amazon with Wine To Water on their first international service trip.

The team is continuing to raise funds for the trip to cover the $1000 fee per person, plus the cost of their airfare. With the Honduras trip fast approaching, these students have been hard at work planning awareness and fundraising events.

Friday evening, ASU Wine To Water is hosting a benefit event at Pepper’s Restaurant and Bar. Dinner will begin at 5 pm and live music by a couple of local bluegrass musicians will begin at 7:30. There will also be a silent auction with several prizes donated by area businesses. A portion of proceeds will support the students’ service trip this May.

The club also plans to have an information contact table on campus on Tuesday, March 31, where students can learn more about the water crisis. Visitors will be able to sample water from the nearby creek, filtered by the Sawyer filter Wine To Water uses for clean water projects, especially disaster relief. The students will collect donations of spare change for the filtered water samples.

“The support that we have been receiving from friends, family and community members is really encouraging. We are all counting down the days until we depart” said Potter, chapter president.

For more information about ASU Wine To Water and its efforts to bring clean water to those in need, visit www.winetowater.appstate.edu.