Homeless dad approaches police officers at bus depot and gets more than he asked for

[Demovictory9]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/20/us/miami-dade-police-help-homeless-family-btc/index.html


Recently, a homeless man approached several Miami-Dade police officers who routinely patrol a travel hub near the city's airport -- and the situation played out much differently.

He told the officers that he and his wife and four children had recently moved from Michigan in the hopes of him finding a job as a cook, but the family had been kicked out of a relative's home. With nowhere to go, the family of six headed to the bus depot with all of their belongings in plastic garbage bags.

"I saw his wife holding a 2-month-old, I saw the other kids and just immediately thought to myself, 'Wow, we have to help them,'" Officer Jose DeLeon recalled.

So DeLeon and fellow officers Roberto Azcuy, Isabel Soto, Dayane Wilhelm and Scott McBath -- all moms and dads, themselves -- reached into their pockets and came up with nearly $200 to help the family.

Beyond the Call of Duty
Being a new mother herself, Wilhelm couldn't fathom a newborn sleeping in the bus station.

"I had just taken out money that morning and ... I just, I gave it up," Wilhelm said through tears.

But the officers didn't stop there. After giving the family the money from their pockets, they made some calls and found a local shelter with room for the family of six. The police officers even drove them there.
"It took three units to carry everybody and their belongings," McBath recalled.

The man and his wife were extremely grateful and expressed their gratitude, the officers said. The family eventually made it back to Michigan with the money from the officers and assistance from the shelter.

[dewsgirl]

1. Aww a good story. When I first started reading, I was like

this is going to be bad. I'm happy I kept going.😊

[mcar]

2. Kick

[Karadeniz]

3. Bravo!

[James48]

4. And here in Michigan,

It’s snowing.

And we’ve got a Republican -dominated (gerrymandered) State House and republican dominated (gerrymandered) State Senate, both of whom failed to provide adequate financial assistance for a family now cast out in the cold here.

[George II]

5. Wonderful story. Many years ago my mother approached a homeless woman sleeping on a bench....

....in a NYC subway station. She stuffed a few dollars in her hand, turned and was confronted by a Transit cop. He said, "what are you doing that for?" She said, "That could be your mother!" He sheepishly nodded and walked away.

Mind you, my mother was only 4'-11" and was in her mid-70s at the time. Toughest, and kindest, woman I've ever known.

[Heartstrings]

6. She sounds lovingly feisty...

my grandma was very much the same! Fond memories of that lady!

[George II]

7. They were amazing people, my parents. Deep into their 80s they were still helping people....

...at 85 my father was shuttling people who couldn't drive to the supermarket weekly so they could get groceries. They were still collecting old clothes to give to recently released prisoners, to help them get a head start on their return to society. My mother was folding clothes to bring them to the shelter and fell off her chair, breaking two ribs. My father was allowed to stay with her in the hospital overnight until she recovered (still don't know how they skirted the hospital liability rules, but they were convincing, too!!!)

A month later she was back at it!

They kept winter coats in the trunk of the car in case they saw a homeless person freezing on the street.

The last time I saw my father, 87 years old, we were interrupted by a call from their State Senator, asking HIM for advice on how to approach a vote to repeal the death penalty in NY!

I could go on with stories - this OP really got to me. That's how people should treat each other - young, old, civilians, police, etc. I'm really sad that republicans have been wearing away our society's human decency.

[Heartstrings]

8. They sound like what this world needs more of....

Love, compassion, kindness and just being a good human being.....

[pecosbob]

9. Here in Las Vegas our noble commissioners just passed a law criminalizing sleeping in public areas

the blanket law...six months in jail and a one thousand dollar fine...and in an all blue state to boot.