Tyler Deaton, 29, of Herculaneum is celebrating the season of giving by trying to make a difference for children in need.
For the second year in a row, Deaton, a Navy veteran and owner of Deaton Landscaping and Co., is collecting new and unused bicycles, scooters and helmets for underserved youth aged 5-16.
Deaton said he is working with the Festus R-6 School District to collect 34 bikes for students enrolled in the district. If that need is met, he will begin collecting for other districts in the area.
Last year, Deaton held a drive to benefit Dunklin R-5 School District students.
Deaton asks people to donate cash or bikes, scooters and helmets to the drive, which began Nov. 1 and ends on Dec. 15.
Deaton’s two children, Hayzel, 9, and Jackson, 6, are both students in the Festus School District. He said he is happy to run the drive.
“I think these small acts of kindness go a long way to uplift in the community. It’s something that’s important to me and I think is important to the people in the community,” he said. “It’s a great way to give back in a fun way, between the bikes and the scooters and the helmets, being able to get kids outside and playing and letting kids be kids.”
Denise Funston, assistant superintendent in charge of teaching and learning at the Festus School District, said the district is excited to work with Deaton on the bike and helmet drive.
“We’re always happy to have people help kids here,” Funston said.
She said the school counselors at the elementary and intermediate schools determined which children needed bicycles.
“The counselors are really in tune with the kids and have a good idea of who is in need of support and things like that,” Funston said.
She said she took the list from the counselors and forwarded it to Deaton so he could purchase bicycles in the correct sizes and colors.
Funston said the bike and helmet drive is going to be a boon for the children.
“Bikes are expensive, and for a lot of families, they are a luxury and not really a need. But kids love to be outside and it’s good for them to be outside, exercising their bodies, getting fresh air. Any way that we can support that is something that we would like to do.”
Funston said the school district is grateful Deaton brought the idea for the bike drive to them. “Tyler seems like such a generous and genuine guy, very kind, and truly wants to help,” she said.
Last year Deaton received about $5,000 in donations and used the money to buy bicycles and helmets. He also contributed 25 bicycles and 25 helmets to the cause. In all, he provided 55 bikes, 16 scooters and 66 helmets to children in the Dunklin School District.
Deaton said that one of his biggest helpers in the drives has been his wife, Gabriela, 29.
“Last year she helped me build bikes and we stored them in our basement,” he said. “There were lots of long nights building bikes. She helped me transport them. She’s a huge supporter.”
Deaton said he already has received several donations, including one from Caliber Collision in Festus.
He said he hopes more businesses and people decide to help out.
“I think that with this kind of thing, there’s a domino effect where people see other people doing good and they want to get involved,” he said. “In no way am I the solo person on this. There are countless people, lots of individual donors, who reached out last year and good businesses that have that made anonymous donations. When I reach out to these places, they’re quick to give a hand.”
Those interested in donating to the drive may send a message to Deaton through his Facebook page, Deaton Landscaping & Co., or by calling or texting him at 314-954-2710. Monetary donations will also be accepted on his Venmo account: Tyler-Deaton-8.
Deaton said the district will distribute the bicycles, scooters and helmets at an event in mid-December, but the date and place have not been set, adding that he will deliver bikes to families who are not able to pick up their bikes.