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Most NFL players want to relax on their day off, but Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers dedicated his to hurricane relief on Tuesday. The North Carolina native donated $100,000 out of his own pocket to support Hurricane Florence repairs. He could have stopped there, but he didn't. He played football and basketball at UNC Chapel Hill, and he grew up in Wilson, North Carolina. The Carolinas are his home, so he wants to help in any way he can.
“A lot of these people had to rip the walls out of their homes, throw out furniture and clothing, throw out everything that they had, all of their possessions thrown to the side of the road,” Peppers told the Charlotte Observer. “Seeing those things, and the people telling their stories, it was an experience that I’m going to take with me and that I’m going to share with others as I encourage others to come try to help out, too.”
Julius Pepper saw the damage first hand in Lumberton, North Carolina. He drove out to help with the recovery. The site he assisted at was less than two hours from his own home town. After helping out, Peppers made it known that the damage is very real, even if it's not all over the news.
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“When the storm hits, and the media coverage isn’t there anymore, those people are still there,” he said. “The problems don’t leave just because the cameras did. The after-effects where people are having to go in and do these repairs, oftentimes on their own or with the help of volunteers, it’s a tall task. . . . Some of these people are still rebuilding from the last hurricane two years ago. It’s been a tough time for all of them, and it’s going to be a process even now.”
The Panthers drafted Peppers with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. He left for a stint, but he eventually returned home. The Panthers got a great player, and an even better person.
