INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts receiver Pierre Garcon walked into the team's complex Wednesday with a heavy heart.
The fun-loving receiver's trademark smile was deeply concerned after Haiti's devastating earthquake and the fate of "countless" relatives who live near the capital city of Port-Au-Prince.
"Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews. We still have not heard much from them and my mom is still trying to call them," Garcon said. "I'm keeping in contact with my mom. It's tough to get in touch with people down there because of the phone lines."
The second-year player from Mount Union in Ohio was born in Carmel, N.Y., and attended high school in Florida, but his parents emigrated to the U.S. from Haiti and most of his relatives still live there. Garcon says there are too many to count.
Last season, Garcon went back to the country for his grandmother's funeral, and he planned to return in April with his charitable organization, the Pierre Garcon Foundation.
But when the 7.0-magnitude quake struck Tuesday, devastating one of the world's poorest nations, Garcon changed the plan. Instead of waiting until spring to help, Garcon jumped onto his Twitter account and started asking fans for help.
At one point, he tweeted: "We need the US military as soon as possible n haiti We need the 4 million Haitian that live out side of haiti to Act now, we need da world!"
As he prepares for Saturday night's playoff game against Baltimore, Garcon intends to use the NFL's stage as a pulpit to seek more assistance in the recovery effort.
"That (Twitter) is how we got the pictures out, the word out, that's been really helpful," Garcon said. "Spreading the word and helping others is really what it's all about and this is the best situation to do that now."
Quarterback Peyton Manning and receiver Reggie Wayne are both New Orleans natives who were in Indianapolis when Hurricane Katrina struck. Manning took on a prominent role in the relief efforts and still sometimes talks about the need to get more tourists into the city.
Wayne understands how hard it can be in the wake of a disaster.
"There's no communication going on, which is sort of the same situation I had with Katrina," Wayne said. "We had no communication with family members."
Coach Jim Caldwell and teammates offered their support, help and prayers for Garcon, who is coming off a breakout season and is expected to play Saturday despite missing the last two games with a bruised hand.
For Garcon, the hardest part is the uncertainty.
"It's hard, not knowing what's going to happen," he said. "The rebuilding process is going to take forever."
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