As Irma churns too close for comfort, Pamela Panitz is like many of us right now.
“This one's making me nervous,” she says. “It really looks like it's going to hit us.”
Those fears are somewhat eased Wednesday when Palm Beach Central High School's football team showed up to help her install her hurricane shutters.
“This is way more than I expected in any way,” Panitz says.
The team took their talents off the field, installing shutters for their neighbors as Irma approaches.
“We got a few guys together, and we're just out here giving our best and giving back to our community that gives to us,” team member Jordan Kolnick says.
“We play for the community, we play for our school, and we want to represent the community by doing the right thing,” says coach Tino Ierulli. “Building young men into men.”
The team reached out to neighbors on Facebook, offering up their services.
The work, admittedly, has been taxing.
“It can be tricky,” Kolnick says. “One wrong move and that's a window.”
The response from grateful neighbors keeps them going.
“They're just giving it their all, nobody's wining, crying or complaining,” says Aimee Stern, who had her shutters put up by the team. “They're just determined to help.”
They’re putting up shutters and putting in sweat so their neighbors don't have to.
“If we don't have each other, who could we rely on?” Kolnick asked.
The team says it's pretty booked up through the week, but it does have a few slots available.
For more info, contact Coach Ierulli at 352-428-5086.
