The officers were so moved by the 9-year-old’s gesture that they decided to perform an act of kindness in return.
Kids typically learn early on that police officers play a big role in our communities, and are people that you can turn to when you’re in trouble. However, some children get to see firsthand that there are many officers who go above and beyond the call of duty as well.
When 9-year-old Brooke Yost couldn’t afford a container of donut holes at a gas station, she thought she’d have to leave the store without them. But lucky for her, there was a kind-hearted state trooper standing behind her in line.
When the officer noticed that Brooke would have to walk away empty-handed, he offered to pay for her treat. Brooke, feeling nervous in the cop’s presence, thanked him before running out of the store with her donuts as soon as she had them in her hands.
Usually, that’s where the story would end. But not in this case.
Once Brooke got home, she knew she needed to repay the kind officer – quite literally. So she penned a sweet letter of thanks, then tucked the $10 bill she owed him into the envelope. She wrote:
“My name is Brooke and I am 9 years old. I was at Sheetz and I didn’t have enough money. A nice police officer behind me kindly paid for my item. I thanked him but I felt bad because I didn’t offer him the money I had. So I am donating this money. I want to thank this officer again. Stay safe, Brooke.”
Brooke’s letter made it back to Chad Savannah, the cop who had paid for her donut holes. But it also touched the hearts of the rest of the cops at the local station.
They didn’t need Brooke’s $10 – but they were so moved by her thoughtfulness that they decided to respond. Each cop pitched in, and together, they bought Brooke a $50 gift card to a toy store as a thank-you for her thank-you.
You’d think, once more, that the story would end there. But no – because Brooke had even more generosity up her sleeve!
Most kids would go wild with a $50 gift card, but Brooke donated her purchases to a charity. When the police found this out, they knew that Brooke was really something special. They decided to honor her with a private tour of the station, where they presented her with gifts – and donuts, of course!
Brooke’s kind actions came from her own heart – but there may have been some good parenting involved, too. In an interview with CBS Pittsburgh, Brooke’s mom said:
“We’re trying to teach our kids right. That’s all we’re trying to do is teach them the right thing to do and to take care of what they owe for. We felt that she owed for them donuts.”
Both the little girl and the officers got to see first-hand how quickly kindness can spread. It’s a story that’s warming the internet’s heart!
Watch the video below to see a sweet interview with Brooke and the trooper.
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