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Deputies roll out new wheels for children in need

A Palm Harbor couple and their employees donate 97 bikes.

By JOSE CARDENAS, Times Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007

The Bechtel family, and employees at their business, donated 97 bikes to the Pinellas sheriff's Christmas Sharing Project.
	[Atoyia Deans | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Atoyia Deans | Times] Pinellas County sheriff's personnel load some of 97 bicycles donated by the Bechtels. Deputies delivered clothing, toys and bikes to the High Point Family Center for distribution.

Things are pretty tough right now for Annette Silvestri, recently separated from her husband and living temporarily with a sister in Clearwater.

But Pinellas County sheriff's deputies did their part Tuesday to make sure her two kids will have presents to open come Christmas morning.

Silvestri walked into a room filled with presents at the High Point Family Center near Largo and walked out with two red bags for her kids,Juliannette, 12, and Shawn, 11.

"This is very significant for me because my children don't have anything for Christmas," said Silvestri, 38, a stay-home mom who now must find a job.

Earlier, deputies had received a donation from husband and wife Kevin and Debbie Bechtel and employees of their company, Life Brokerage Partners of Oldsmar.

The 97 colorful bikes of all sizes and helmets the couple donated were displayed on a grassy yard outside Sheriff's Office headquarters in Largo.

"It's just something we always wanted to do, give back to the community," said Debbie Bechtel, 34, who lives with her husband and two children - Jake, 2, and Baylie, 9 months - in Palm Harbor. "This year, all the stars aligned."

The couple were joined at the outdoor press conference by Kevin Bechtel's father, Hans, a retired deputy, and his mother, Jan. The family made the gift also in the name of Kevin Bechtel's younger brother, Eric.

The bikes became part of the many toys the deputies will deliver to 800 children throughout Pinellas this Christmas.

Earlier this month, deputies also bought gifts with more than $44,000 they raised during the annual Ride and Run With the Stars at Fort De Soto Park.

"What we are doing is helping our community and the victims' families," sheriff's Capt. Teresa Dioquino said.

The Sheriff's Office started its Christmas Sharing Project in 1993 to help needy families, children and victims of crime find a bright spot during the holidays.

Each year, the recipients of the gifts are chosen by deputies from the Patrol Operations and Detention and Corrections bureaus, as well as from Community Policing, Youth Education Services, Victim Advocates, Community Services and the Child Protective Division.

In these positions, many deputies get to know the needs of the families they encounter through the year.

"It's overwhelming, being able to participate in this," said Deputy Mitchell Grissinger, handing out gifts to a few mothers in a small room at High Point Family Center.

As a community policing officer, Grissinger said, he gets to spend time with families.

"You get to help the community, help the kids," said Grissinger, 30. "You talk to them. You talk to their families."

The High Point Family Center provides emergency financial assistance to families facing hardships throughout the year.

The gifts from the deputies fit into that mission during a time of the year that is particularly stressful to some parents.

"We are basically trying to keep them from having to make the choice between paying their bills and buying gifts for their children," said Margo Adams, the center's executive director.

"I'm really appreciative," said Ashley Bumbalough, 24, who lives near the family center and said her husband just lost his job.

Without the gifts the deputies handed her, Bumbalough said, her three boys and a girl, ages 1 to 8, would not get much on Christmas.

"It really helps this time of year," said Bumbalough.

Jose Cardenas can be reached at jcardenas@sptimes.com or 727 445-4224.

By the numbers

97 bicycles were donated by Life Brokerage Partners of Oldsmar.

$44,000 was raised by deputies during the Ride and Run With the Stars earlier this month to buy gifts for needy families.

800 children throughout Pinellas County will receive gifts.

[Last modified December 18, 2007, 20:26:19]