A Greenacres resource center hopes to provide some cheer to thefive malnourished children deputies discovered living in a car with their parents Saturday.
The deputies who arrested the parents first took them and their children to Church of the Risen Messiah for help.
“We got a call that a family was in distress,” remembered Lorraine Motlow.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were on the phone after discovering Rikki Hart and Donell Barron living in a car with their five children.
“I don’t even know if heartbreaking is the word to say. It was unbelievable,” Motlow explained.
Motlow and her husband Tim run Helping Hands Assistance Program through the Church of the Risen Messiah. It’s a food bank and resource center.
They found food, clothes and toys for Hart's and Barron's five children Saturday. They even offered to give the parents gift cards to Publix before deputies arrested them for child neglect.
“They were happy,” Motlow said of the children, adding that they did need assistance.
“I kind of wish we could have been involved a little earlier because this is what we do,” said Tim Motlow.
He said their program is designed to help families land on their feet before it’s too late. Even though Helping Hands got involved at the 11th hour, it won't give up on this family.
It has two bags full of toys for the kids. The Motlows want to deliver some joy this Christmas. They have faith the future is promising for this family.
“I believe once this is resolved he will find a way, I hope, to get his kids, his family back together and have a support for them,” Tim Motlow said.
Florida’s Department of Children and Families took charge of the children Saturday and placed them in foster care.
Motlow said they’ve been in touch with DCF, and hope to track down the children to deliver the presents in time for Christmas.
I spoke with directors of @helpinghandsap who gave food/clothes to these kids. They have xmas toys they hope to deliver soon https://t.co/lmEnvuyseS
— Charlie Keegan (@CKeeganWPTV) December 21, 2016