The tragic earthquake – and aftershocks – has hit the Haitian community if Fairfield County hard. It’s hit the high school football community especially hard because we are all in this together.
Several FCIAC schools have significant Haitian populations: The schools in Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford stand out. I asked Stamford head coach Kevin Jones how his team is doing, and he said it’s been a hard time for quite a few of the students in the school. As of Wednesday, several students were still waiting to hear from family in and around Port-au-Prince.
And everyone is doing their part, Jones said. The student body has raised nearly $3,000 for the relief efforts
Jones also said former offensive tackle Vladimir Ducasse, who is a projected third-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft, has heard from his father, step-mother, sister and brother, and that the family is safe. Ducasse’s father sent Vladimir and his brother to the United States to live when they were teenagers.
Ducasse was able to donate 20,000 cases of Vitamin Water to the relief efforts, Jones said. Today, Ducasse told Boston Herald that he plans to use his status as an NFL draft pick to be to not only help out his homeland, but to encourage others to do the same:
“I’m excited about the Senior Bowl,” Ducasse said. “I’m excited about the NFL combine. I’m excited about getting drafted and playing in the NFL. At the same time, I have weight on my shoulders because I feel I have to do something to help out back home.
“That’s always on my mind,” he said. “I want to be able to donate money. I want to speak out. I want to do my part. Right now, I want to use my role to tell people to help send food, clothes, money. This is all very important.
“If all goes as planned,” he said, “I’ll have the ability to do those things.”
Bassick was also hit hard: Head coach Frank Marcuccio said six kids on the soccer team, eight on his team and three on the girls basketball team were awaiting word as of Wednesday.
Later that day, Jordan Claude, a senior All-FCIAC lineman and all-league shot-putter on the track team, got the word he hoped not to hear. His father was among the dead.
Bassick, too, has been encouraging its students to give what they can to the relief efforts. The school was collecting for American Red Cross.
Central head coach Dave Cadelina said a freshman player lost family members. Pete Tucci of Norwalk said members of the 2009 team were not affected, though he hadn’t heard about his players from the 2008 team. McMahon athletic director Joe Madaffari said his school, too, is involved in helping the relief efforts.
How you can help
I planned to work with BlueStreak Sports Training to organize a blood drive, figuring that would be the next logical step for the recovery efforts. Matt Cole got in touch with the people he worked with at American Red Cross in December when BlueStreak hosted a blood drive, but was informed they are booked solid through June.
American Red Cross’s suggestion: They want businesses to spread the word about locations and times of blood drives. You can find them here: http://www.redcrossblood.org/ct.
Secured by