New York Police Officer Reunites With Woman He Helped on a Cold Winter Day

A woman was struggling to carry her groceries in the cold when someone saw her need. A police officer helped the woman, and it touched her deeply. He went beyond what he’s called to do.

It was Dec. 13th when Rhea Holmes was carrying her box home from the food pantry.

Woman Struggles to Carry Heavy Box of Food Home

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“I knew that my box was heavy,” Rhea said. “I decided to put it on my head to carry it that way.”

Syracuse, New York, Police Officer Jamie Pastorello spotted her from his car while he was filling out paperwork for an investigation.

“It appeared she was out of breath, tired,” Jamie said. “I drove over to her and said, ‘Ma’am, do you need a ride?’ Immediately, she broke down.”

Rhea said the tears came freely because she had asked God for help and knew he was going to deliver.

Police Officer Meets a Need and Helps Woman

Before Jamie dropped her off at home, she asked to stop by the cemetery where her husband and her father, who passed away earlier this year, are buried. After the meaningful visit, Jamie snapped a selfie of Rhea hugging him, which went viral.

“You don’t know what you did that day, sir,” Rhea told him when they reunited a few days later.

 “I hope this reminds people to take care of each other,” Jamie said, adding that he’s not unlike other officers. “Go out of their way, for the simple things. I thought nothing of it, but it meant so much to her.”

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way

“It opened my eyes, he’s not just an officer,” Rhea said. “He’s a human, and he met my human needs.”

A little kindness goes a long way. We should all be a little like Jamie, don’t you think?

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h/t: Local Syr

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/NewsChannel 9 WSYR Syracuse

Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.