Lending a helping hand

Football players from Howard, Long Reach and Centennial raise money, food and supplies to help Ellicott City flood victims

About one week from the start of training camp for the 2016 football season, the Howard High School football team, with an assist from its Howard County rivals Long Reach and Centennial, scored an early win, Monday evening, as the team organized a community effort to bring relief to the victims of Saturday’s flooding disaster in historic Ellicott City. “We are part of this community. Many of our families and teachers live in that area and we all have visited this area frequently. We just wanted to find a way to help out and show our support,” said Howard coach Bruce Strunk, who helped organize the effort. “We got a great response from the community and support from the football programs at Long Reach and Centennial. We all are part of the Ellicott City community.” Indeed the effort made an impact, as 2 box trucks were filled with food for the Howard County food bank and another truck was filled with cleaning supplies to assist in the recovery efforts in the Ellicott City Historic District which sustained millions of dollars in damage. In addition to the food and supplies, more than $15,600 in cash donations were collected by the group. Of this $10,500 will go to the Ellicott City partnership and more than $5,100 will be donated the Red Cross. “I want to thank all of the football players from Howard High School, Long Reach High School and Centennial High School for a job well done,” said Strunk.