In the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, and left over 100,000 people feared dead, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore feels the pain despite being thousands of miles away. The Hull striker was born in New Jersey to Haitian parents, and still has family on the ravaged island that he hasn’t found.

“To this point my mom _ who is back in the States _ who has a lot of family back there, a couple of uncles, we haven’t been able to reach anybody,” Altidore said recently, interviewed by CNN from Leeds. He also appeared on Larry King Live yesterday, and waxed eloquently about the heart of the Haitian people. In the wake of this tragedy, they will need it.

“Seeing those pictures, hearing those reports, it was really hard to swallow,” Altidore said. “That’s where my parents were born and I still have a hard time believing it.”

Apparently several members of Altidore’s family are still missing amid the chaos and carnage. As the international community rallies to send cash and aid _ food, water, medical supplies, etc. _ all the ex-Red Bull forward can do is hope and pray.