North Fort Myers graduate ZaQuandre White, Miami Dolphins players hand out supplies in Lee

Jon Santucci, Fort Myers News-Press
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Miami Dolphins running backs ZaQuandre White, Raheem Mostert and 11 of their teammates were at North Fort Myers High School on Tuesday morning helping pass out supplies, meals and water to families in need as a result of Hurricane Ian.

White, a 2017 North Fort Myers High graduate who still has family in the area, said it meant a lot to return to the school and be able to give back.

“I went to this high school,” White said. “This is where I’m from. I’m glad my teammates came out to help me, the whole Miami Dolphins organization. I’m just glad to be here right now. It feels great to give back to people in need.  A lot of people don’t got things right now. Me getting the opportunity to help them out feels great.”

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Dolphins players, including offensive tackle Greg Little, cornerback Kader Kahou, linebacker Channing Tindall, helped load water into trunks, handed out fresh-cooked meals, and even brought several items the players purchased themselves such as generators, diapers, traps, rakes, and batteries.

They were joined by senior student-athletes at North Fort Myers as well as personnel from the school. More than 4,000 meals and $35,000 in supplies were distributed, according to the school district.

“It just shows the rich alumni tradition of North Fort Myers High School, what this community is about and what this school is about,” North Fort Myers head football coach Dwayne Mack said. “I often brag and call this school the Stanford of Lee County because we have high academics and high athletics. To see alumni like Z come back and bring the Miami Dolphins to team together with Lee County School District and North Fort Myers, it’s a beautiful thing. It’s a proud thing. It makes me proud to be part of the North Fort Myers community and proud to be head of the North Fort Myers football team. To have all the sports out – cheerleading, football, bowling, volleyball – it’s a great experience.”

Rob Spicker, spokesman for The School District of Lee County, said the Dolphins contacted him more than a week ago to see how they could get involved.

Cars began lining up at the school more than an hour before the 11 a.m. start.

“We’re just thrilled that the Dolphins are here to help out our community and using this school as a distribution point,” Spicker said. “We’re happy we can partner with them. They reached out to me about a week and a half ago and said, ‘We’ve got a player on the team whose parents live on Cape Coral, suffered some damage, he’s been going back and forth. We want help him and that community. What do you need? What can we bring? What can we do? ‘

“They were already partnered up with World Central Kitchen, we just thought off the top of our head, ‘Here’s the supplies we know we need. The power was out, we need generators. Babies need baby food and formula. Obviously, water and non-perishable food.’ They’re bringing batteries, brooms. It was an opportunity yet again for the school district in our role to help people recover.”

North Fort Myers High football players help unload a truck as the Miami Dolphins arrived at their school to deliver and hand out supplies to support those suffering from loss due to Hurricane Ian.
North Fort Myers High football players help unload a truck as the Miami Dolphins arrived at their school to deliver and hand out supplies to support those suffering from loss due to Hurricane Ian.

White rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns in 14 games in two seasons at North Fort Myers. Considered one of the best running backs in the nation in the class of 2017, White signed with Florida State and spent one season there. He also played one year at Iowa Western Community College before playing two seasons at South Carolina.  He signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in May and currently is a member of the team’s practice squad.

White said he wanted to do something as soon as he saw the devastation Ian left.

Dolphins football player and North Fort Myers graduate Zaquandre White, signs an autograph for Richard MacDonald. Members of the Miami Dolphins football team visited North Fort Myers High School Tuesday, October 11, 2022 to help distribute food and supplies to local residents impacted by the effects of Hurricane Ian. The players teamed up alongside students and faculty members and assisted in loading vehicles with needed supplies including generators, food, water, diapers, and other daily essentials.

“When it hit, I could see how many people were in need,” he said. “I have a lot of family here. Me just being able to give back and have the opportunity to give back to my community means a lot to me.”

Mostert, who grew up in New Smyrna Beach, said he could identify with the people who showed up for help Tuesday.

“It means a lot because I’ve been through these experiences,” Mostert said. “I’ve grown up in hurricane season. I remember a time when I was a little boy, trees getting knocked over, not having the right supplies. Being able to go out and ask for help is definitely important in the community. It’s very important we all stick together, especially in a time like this for the state because it is state-wide.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Miami Dolphins players hand out supplies at North Fort Myers High School