Anquan Boldin was a 3x Pro Bowl receiver with the Arizona Cardinals and a Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens. He was known for coming through for his teams, and he just did it again.
This time for his hometown of Pahokee, Florida.
Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a deal with Publix Super Markets to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine to seniors. That was great news for the state, but bad news for those who live in the Glades. According to 60 Minutes, those residents live 25 miles or more from the nearest Publix. In addition, many in that community of 31,000, which is mostly Black and Latino, live below the poverty line.
When news of the partnership with Publix was released, it stunned many, including community activist Tammy Jackson-Moore, who had been working to help secure vaccines for seniors in the Glades.
“I was shocked because I know that we don’t have a Publix,” said Jackson-Moore to 60 Minutes. “I knew that this was not going to be good for this community.”
In early March, less than half of the seniors in that community had been vaccinated. Many did not have the means to travel, others lacked the technology, such as a smartphone or a computer, to make an appointment. But instead of dwelling on the issue, Jackson-Moore rang the bell. And the call was answered.
It began with local mayors writing the governor’s office. Then the media joined the effort.
But the biggest assist came from hometown hero, Anquan Boldin.
When he heard of his community’s plight, Boldin got on the horn with fellow Florida State alum and Florida Secretary of the Lottery, John Davis. Through his connections at the governor’s office, they set the wheels in motion. A week later, a vaccination site was set up at the Anquan Boldin Stadium in the Glades.
Now his community can get vaccines every Friday and Saturday and they’re thrilled its in the Glades.
“They were just excited [to have] the vaccination…a lot of people were excited,” said Boldin.
He’s no stranger to giving back. Through the Anquan Boldin Foundation, he has consistently supported the Glades through annual food drives, scholarships, and education programs. Being from that area, he’s well aware of the disparities in service and access across the state.
“There are a lot of resources that the east coast gets that the Glades usually doesn’t get,” said Boldin. “Once COVID hit, it really shined a light on the disparities throughout the different communities.”
But Anquan Boldin never forgot about where he’s from and he just came through with another big play for his hometown.
