A cop set out to use his own money to buy a hardworking woman a car in Michigan, and his effort inspired others to chip in to pull off the act of kindness.
Lansing Police Officer Trevor Arnold was assigned as a community policing officer at the low-income housing complex, South Washington Park, over a year ago, WBIR-TV reported.
While on duty he noticed 54-year-old Jo Meade pedalling her Panama Jack bike in unbearable conditions to get to work. Meade would ride her bike every Sunday on a 16-mile round trip to her job at Cracker Barrel in Okemos, where she had been washing dishes for the past 14 years, WBIR-TV said.
She had been without a car for eight years, after another driver ran a red light and crashed into her, resulting in her vehicle being totaled. Since then Meade has been forced to do whatever she could to get to work. During the week she would spend four hours commuting to and from work, taking three buses from her apartment.
Her boss, General Manager Marie Williams, described Meade as reliable and committed.
"She's willing to ride the three buses to get in here on her day off if we need her to," said Williams, according to WBIR-TV.
Noting her hard work, Arnold told WLNS-TV that he decided to help Meade out by purchasing her a car.
He set about making enquiries but said the project soon grew as more people jumped in to help. Eventually enough money was raised to purchase a 2007 Ford Taurus, which was handed to Meade with the help of Kia of Lansing dealership and various other donors.
"It had my heart racing. I didn't expect it," said Meade, according to WBIR-TV.
She had not been expecting the gift and was taken aback when Arnold picked her up after her shift and drove her to the dealer, where her car was waiting.