Detention Deputies Bring Cheer To 2 Hillsborough Families In Need

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — To brighten the holidays for children in need, detention deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office bought, wrapped and hand-delivered Christmas presents to two local families.

Deputies wanted to continue their tradition of adopting a family in need this year, especially with many families in the community still feeling the economic impact of the coronavirus.

One of the families deputies adopted is a family of six. The children, ages 3, 6, 10 and 13, would not have received Christmas gifts this year without the help of deputies because their father is currently out of work.

The other family experienced the sudden loss of their father this year. The three children, ages 5, 6 and 7, were home alone with their father in May when he suffered a heart attack. The 4-year-old child (now 5) found her father unresponsive. She called her big brother, who is only 7 years old, into the room to help and he used his father's cellphone to call for help.

From October to December, detention deputies at the Orient Road Jail conducted three fundraisers for the families. Between selling hot dogs and hamburgers to staff, hosting an Italian Food Night and a chili cook-off, deputies raised more than $2,000. In addition, deputies received another $160.39 from the Hart family, a family that deputies adopted last year. To show their appreciation, the Harts saved their money throughout the year to donate and assist deputies with helping another family in need in 2020.

Detention deputies and staff members shopped for the two families on their scheduled days off. They wrapped the toys and other presents during their lunch breaks and delivered the gifts to the families as a team.

"Giving is what the holiday season is all about. I'm incredibly proud of the effort our detention staff put into making sure two families had a Merry Christmas in spite of their very difficult year," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Both families were extremely grateful and even shed a few tears of joy. Thanks to these deputies, I am confident that this will be a Christmas they will never forget."