Ex-Buc Quarles Helps Family Get Home

By KATHERINE SMITH The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 28, 2007

TAMPA - Shelton Quarles grew up in cramped quarters. He slept in the same bed with his mother until he was 16.

The former Bucs linebacker didn't want 7-year-old Gustavo or his mother, Josefina Zepeda, to live in a similar situation.

That is why Quarles helped the Zepeda family obtain the American dream of owning their first home.

On Wednesday, Zepeda, who moved to the United States from Honduras in 1998, and her son cut the ribbon to their house built by Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County. Then they walked up the steps to the front door, opening it to a whole new world.

When Zepeda last saw the house, it was empty. As she opened the door Wednesday, tears flowed heavily after she saw her new furniture, provided by Aaron's. She ran her hand along the caramel-colored leather sofas in the family room and exclaimed, "Wow, that's nice."

"Oh my goodness," said Zepeda, who works in the housekeeping department at Tampa Preparatory School. "I've been dreaming for so long. Thank God for everything. I pray every day for my home."

Quarles has been helping former Bucs running back Warrick Dunn and his Homes for the Holidays program for several years. He decided to begin a program of his own, called Mother's Day Miracles, through his charity organization, Impact Foundation.

Quarles also has been weighing his options since the Bucs released him in April. He said he has received calls from several teams, but they are "too far away." He will decide in the next couple of weeks whether he will retire.

In the meantime, his foundation gets the bulk of Quarles' time these days, and he especially enjoys moments like Wednesday.

Moments when Zepeda saw her son's room for the first time and let loose a torrent of tears. Gustavo immediately laid claim to the top portion of his bunk bed. His Spider-Man shirt and light-up tennis shoes matched the decor of his new room. He blended in with the comforters covered with images of his favorite action hero.

The West Tampa Elementary second-grader was so consumed with all things Spider-Man, including a poster, curtains and a lamp, he glossed over his new computer. Mom saw it, though, and imagined the possibilities, such as helping Gustavo with his school work. Gustavo wanted to know if it plays any games.

Gustavo's bedroom in the apartment he shared with his mom was much smaller than his new one. There was one other big distinction between the old and the new.

"My other bedroom's a mess," he confessed.

"You keep this one clean," Zepeda warned.

Zepeda's bedroom, located next to her son's, is filled with a queen-sized bed and a dresser with picture frames on top waiting to be filled. One frame will feature a photo of her other son, Carlos, who was in fourth grade when he died in Honduras last fall after a long battle with leukemia.

"He used to tell me not to worry, that I would have something new," Zepeda said. "He gives me strength. He's watching me right now."

There were others looking out for Zepeda as well.

It took 100 Habitat volunteers 14 Saturdays and hundreds of hours of labor to build the house. One of those volunteers was Zepeda. She learned how to use a hammer and helped put down the flooring.

"She wanted to do it all," said Sherry Heywood of Van Dyke United Methodist Church, a Habitat board member. "She'd say, 'I'll do it, for my house.'"

Quarles had a choice of who would receive his foundation's help, in the form of a $5,000 donation for the down payment. Something about the Zepeda family's struggles struck a chord.

He has a soft spot for single mothers, having been raised by one. Quarles' father passed away when he was 2, leaving his mother to play the role of both parents. He appreciated Zepeda's work ethic and her dedication to her family, because it reminded him of his mother.

"There were others," Quarles said. "But with her family and the things they've been through and how she's trying to make a difference, it made it an easy choice."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860 or ksmith@tampatrib.com.