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Deputies' Spree Helps Foster Children

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

TAMPA - The shoppers were on a mission - spend $4,000 to help almost 200 children, some only a few days old, in foster care.

Armed with lists, 15 Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies and three family members, 10 volunteers from Foster Angels and 15 Wal-Mart associates headed to the toy and clothing departments at Wal-Mart, 19910 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., on Friday morning.

The money had been donated by the store and two other Wal-Marts and would be spent at the New Tampa store and at a Wal-Mart in Seffner. This was the seventh year that Deputy Judy Woster organized the shopping.

Woster said 1,500 children are in foster care in the county in private homes or group facilities.

"We are shopping this morning for 100 children. And then we just got 10 newborns taken into care just yesterday," she said. "Also, we have more than 60 teens that people forget about."

Deputy Brian Pulido of Plant City brought his wife, Veronica, and his home-schooled children, Danielle, who turned 8 on Friday, and Michaela, 5.

"We wanted our children to see how good they have it," Brian Pulido said.

Col. Carl Hawkins also was among those loading dolls, trucks, games, shirts and pants into shopping carts.

"What we do is make this Christmas a happy one for them," Hawkins said.

Lenora Lake

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