NFL player returns to hometown ravaged by tornado

Dusty Crochet

9 years ago

CONVENT, La. — He’s usually catching high flying passes as a wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins, but Thursday Jarvis Landry returned back home to Convent.When old friends and neighbors see him, the hugs and smiles make you forget for a moment some of these people just lost everything.“You see about this stuff on TV, “said Landry. “You see it happen in other places but you never think it will happen in your hometown.”Tuesday’s devastating storms brought in a tornado that tore through this community, shredding homes, injuring 30 people and killing two.“I used to walk this levee all the time and it doesn’t even look like Covent anymore,” said Landry.When he heard the news of what happened just yards from his childhood home, he got on a plane made his way to the side of his friends, family, and neighbors.“To me, man it’s a wonderful feeling because not to many people have made it out of St. James Parish and for him to come back and support in tragedies like this it’s just a good feeling,” said Najee Davis, a Convent resident.Others agreed that Landry coming meant a lot to them.“I respect him a lot,” said Tray Simon. “He is doing what he’s supposed to do and I give him all the appreciation for that.”Landry says for the next two days he is going to do everything he can to help his community get back on its feet.“Just get out here in the community and extend every hand that I have,” Landry said. “I’m trying to work with Red Cross, Blue Cross Blue Shield, working through the Miami Dolphins to just do anything that we can possibly do for families, for homes.”