Two Charlotte County deputies helped a homeless mother and her four teenage children get off the street during a rainstorm earlier this month. Deputy Anabel Wadlington paid for a hotel room out of her own pocket, and Deputy David Dziedzic bought the family a meal, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said.
The deputies responded to the Walmart on Murdock Circle in Port Charlotte after store employees called about a family setting up a tarp in the parking lot.
The deputies found the mother and her children with no vehicle, no money and nowhere to stay. They had put up the tarp to stay dry in heavy rain, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The mother told deputies the family had been staying with a friend but could not remain there. They left earlier that evening, she said.
No beds available that night
The mother asked deputies to help her find a church or another organization that could provide temporary shelter. The deputies gave her information on several resources, including the Charlotte CARE Center, formerly the Homeless Coalition.
The hour was late, though, and none of the resources could place the family right away.
Wadlington and Dziedzic talked over options rather than leave the family outside for the night. Wadlington searched for hotel availability and found a room at a local hotel. She paid for it herself, giving the family a dry place to sleep while they worked on longer-term plans the next day.
Dziedzic learned the family had not eaten in several hours and bought them a meal.
Sheriff credits deputies
The Sheriff’s Office said the deputies’ actions reflect the agency’s core values of integrity, professionalism and trust. A supervisor passed the story along to Sheriff Bill Prummell, who praised the pair and addressed the mother directly.
“Deputies go above and beyond every single day, and unfortunately, the public rarely sees or hears about it. That’s because the deputies don’t seek recognition; they just do what needs to be done. In this case, their supervisor shared this with me, and I am grateful that they did. Because this is what CCSO is all about – keeping people safe, whatever that looks like in the moment. To that mother – and anyone else who may be struggling right now – know that there are resources and that things will get better. You are stronger than your circumstances. Believe in yourself and never quit!”
The Sheriff’s Office did not say where the family went after the hotel stay.