Colts WR Pierre Garcon concerned for family in Haiti

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The devastating earthquake in Haiti is very personal for Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon. His extended family including aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews are in Haiti now and Garcon said his family here in the US has heard little from them.

• 24-Hour News 8's Jeane Coakley sat down with Garcon at his apartment Wednesday night. To see what he had to say, click on the video link in the left margin of the story.

Garcon said he was driving to his apartment in Indianapolis Tuesday when he heard news of the earthquake. He said he spent the whole night on the phone with his mom watching the news.

Since then, Garcon has used Facebook and Twitter to find out about his family and friends.

His immediate family is in Florida, but the rest of his family is in Haiti.

In the Colts locker room Wednesday, Garcon said it's tough to concentrate on Saturday's game and he is grateful for the support of the Colts and Hoosiers.

"The guys are reaching out their hands to me and saying if I need anything, to tell them. And the people of Indianapolis have responded back to me, all the fans. It's a lot of support and I really appreciate it," he said.

Garcon said the earthquake is especially bad because of the already tough conditions in the country.

"It's worse than a nightmare. It's already a poor country, this just makes it worse," said Garcon.

Garcon said he was in Haiti last year after his grandmother passed away.

"It's tough because there's really not much I can do. I'm just going to do my best here to try to play through them, play for them, to try to give them a little hope, something besides what they're going through," he said.

Garcon wants to use his position with the Colts and the playoffs to get the word out and help those in Haiti. He has done fundraisers for Haiti and his Pierre Garcon Helping Hands Foundation had planned to go to Haiti in April.

Pierre Garcon was born in Carmel, New York and went to high school in Green Acres, Florida.

• To find out how you can help, go to HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org or visit IndyRedCross.org