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Hurricane Katrina

Child's gesture touches evacuees

A boy with a "very good heart" uses his birthday money to help a young victim of Hurricane Katrina.

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published September 21, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Seven-year-old Seth Howlett's generosity to a Hurricane Katrina evacuee probably can be likened to the Bible story about the widow's mite.

When the first grade student at Northwest Elementary School overheard his parents talking about a boy who had lost all his belongings in the catastrophic storm, Seth offered his birthday money to buy the young hurricane victim a new bicycle.

"I just wanted to help the boy out with his things and stuff," Seth said matter-of-factly during an interview this week.

Monday he presented a brand new bike to 11-year-old Michael Holter, who recently moved with his family to Pinellas Park.

Michael was quietly grateful. His parents, Brandy Davis and Dennis Holter, were touched.

"What it's really done is restored my faith in humanity, from the devastation, from the misery," Holter said.

The family, whose home was in D'Iberville, Miss., lost everything, said Holter, a superintendent for a paint company that was working on the damaged Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi.

The family evacuated before the storm, packing clothes for just two days. They returned to rubble.

"We'll just try to start our life over again," said Holter, adding that they were staying temporarily with relatives in Pinellas Park.

Michael's parents said their son has been depressed since the storm, but Seth's present has been a welcome bright spot. "He's been overjoyed with the bicycle," Holter said.

Seth got the idea to buy the bicycle after hearing his parents, Mark and Mimi Howlett, talking about trying to help the relocated family. Mark Howlett is assistant principal at Pinellas Park Middle School, where Michael is now enrolled.

"I was talking to my wife about it, asking if there is anything we can do to help out with household items, and I mentioned that they have a little boy and he was looking for a bike to get back and forth from school," Howlett said.

Seth, who has a bike of his own, offered the $110 he got for his birthday on Sept. 12.

"My wife and I were both floored," Howlett said. "We know that Seth is a caring little boy and he likes to share, but both of us were amazed. We made an arrangement with him that we would pay for half and he would pay for half."

Monday afternoon the two boys' families gathered near a concession stand at Northwest Recreation Center, where Seth gave his gift to his newfound friend. "You've got a very good heart," Michael's mother told him.

[Last modified September 21, 2005, 00:24:18]