Author’s Note: As long-time readers and podcast listeners know I’ve spent a good deal of time and words chronicling the rise of the Immokalee program and their coach Scott Rickard as they bring the great sport of ours to a community that faced unique challenges in building their program.  This is not a silver spoon community and they have worked hard to get to where they have built a competitive team.

  I’ve been in contact with Coach Rickard since the day before the storm arrived. They took a direct hit from Irma, and are now dealing with destroyed homes and significant challenges. He has requested gift cards to local stores so that while his families and players are dealing with the aftermath of the storm, they might be able to buy food and supplies necessary to sustain until things get back to normal over there.  For those who don’t know Immokalee is an agrarian area and the destruction of agriculture products from Irma will badly impact the economic output of the city. We would like to begin collecting gift cards immediately for the following stores: Winn Dixie, Citgo, CVS, Family Dollar and WalMart.  Immokalee is a small community and these are the only stores nearby, so please stick with this list. Please get going on this as soon as you can. We hope to collect as many gift cards as possible but also get them to Coach Rickard as soon as possible.  Please give me a call at 561-271-7446 or email me at lee@floridalacrossenews.com if you have any questions. Thank you all for your support for the people in Immokalee.   Here is the address you can send the gift cards to: Immokalee High School Attn: Coach Rickard 701 Immokalee Dr. Immokalee FL 34142