Wondolowski Brothers, Houston Dynamo teammates work on goal of relief

Sept. 19, 2008

At one end of the line, Dynamo forward Kyle Brown hustled to stock the back seats, trunks and truck beds of passing vehicles with MREs. Ten yards to his left, defender Wade Barrett and his wife, Hailey, also kept the Meals Ready to Eat coming. Senior director of operations Paul Byrne took care of bags of ice over on the other end.

Rookie midfielder Geoff Cameron took part in a fundraising effort for Hurricane Katrina victims as a college athlete at the University of Rhode Island. Three years later, he stood alongside teammates Corey Ashe, brothers Chris and Stephen Wondolowski (club alumni and older brothers of current Diablo FC member Katie Hoyt) and John Michael Hayden, ready to dispense essentials to the next car pulling up.

The Dynamo undertook a different kind of team effort Friday afternoon. Players and office staff joined University of Houston students and other volunteers in handing out food, water and ice at a point of distribution (POD) at Robertson Stadium.

It is the kind of effort that is sure to make a difference in many people’s lives as they recover from Hurricane Ike.

“This is something a lot more serious than what we go about doing every day,” Barrett said. “A lot of these folks are in real need at this time.

“Soccer is our profession and our career. But this is life, and it’s a very serious situation that’s happening in Houston, so we take this pretty seriously.”

With today’s home match against the San Jose Earthquakes rescheduled for Oct. 15, the Dynamo ditched their post-practice rest-rehydrate-and-recover routine. They broke a sweat to help those in need instead.

Hundreds served hourly

And there was plenty of work to do. An estimated 300 vehicles an hour snaked through the parking lot adjacent to the stadium, stopping briefly to have volunteers load supplies. The helping hands kept the line moving.

“It’s good to come out here and pass out this food to the community,” Brown said. “I don’t know, it just makes you feel a little better about yourself being out here doing something for the community.”

Rookie midfielder Geoff Cameron took part in a fundraising effort for Hurricane Katrina victims as a college athlete at the University of Rhode Island. Three years later, he stood alongside teammates Corey Ashe, brothers Chris and Stephen Wondolowski and John Michael Hayden, ready to dispense essentials to the next car pulling up.

“It’s better being here, firsthand, handing out MREs and ice and everything like that,” said Cameron, who rode out the storm in the locker room. “You know you’re doing something good for the community and helping out.

“You felt it firsthand because you haven’t had power, and it’s tough to get gas and food. Some guys on the team are still without power.”

Six days after Ike stormed through, reminders of its fury remained in the areas around the University of Houston.

Several neighborhoods and intersections remained without electricity. Power lines dangled precariously close to passing cars. A fence surrounding a UH practice facility barely stood up, torn and warped by the wind.

A streetlight’s post, snapped during the storm, rested on the pavement, blocking one lane along Scott Street. An orange cone provided the only warning for approaching motorists.

High demand for basics

But, by far, the biggest reminder of the storm’s wrath was the seemingly never-ending demand for things as basic as water and food.

In all, at least 300 volunteers distributed 240,000 pounds of ice and 43,000 MREs at the Robertson POD alone, according to numbers released by FEMA.

“I think it’s important that we as a team step forward and do something. But really, just as individuals, this is our community also,” Barrett said. “You see a lot of people who are in need, but you also see a lot of people who are here volunteering.

“So for a bad situation, it’s heart-warming to see everyone out here today.”

By Bernardo Fallas

Houston Chronicle