Football players, community unite for Harvey aid

Pain welled up inside as A. J. Poulin, president of the Coral Springs Chargers football team, watched TV footage of Hurricane Harvey wreaking havoc on Houston and its people.

“It tore my heart out to see what they were going through,” Poulin said.

With other members of the board enthusiastically backing the idea, the organization reached out to Houston Harvey Rescue before posting on Facebook that it was collecting supplies for people in Houston. Supplies started to pour in within minutes.

“It is as if everyone wanted to help; I have no words to describe how the community responded,” Poulin said. “It is not just Coral Springs residents; we received donations from all over South Florida. Commissioner Larry Vignola got the high schools involved. I even got a call from a — A. J. Poulin, president of the Coral Springs Chargers

man in New Jersey; he is giving us a cash donation; he wants us to help find his grandmother who lives in Houston.”

“The support and love that we got from the community is beyond awesome,” said Rocha. “We have everything, from food, water, medical supplies, canned food, dog food, tools, toys and boats.”

Friends in other parts of the state also pitched in with help, Rocha said. “Friends in Tampa and Orlando also wanted to do what they can.”

“I have a friend in Houston,” said organization board member Dawn Poulin, as she football team