An officer who arrived to a social service center in North Carolina to remove a homeless mother and her young children ended up helping them instead.
Jeneh Swaray-Akajo told CBS affiliate WNCN News that when she went to Durham Count Human Services to provide the basic needs to her and her children, aged 2, 5 and 9, she was told “no.”
Swaray-Akajo also said that not only was she turned away, a guard at the social service center called police to remove the her.
“She was upset,” officer Nicole Hawkins told WNCN News. “She was just trying to get herself together. She was asking [the guard] to just give her time to get herself together and then she would leave.”
Hawkins said she was also a mother and couldn’t “just walk out” on the family seeking help.
After multiple phone calls to hotels in the area, Hawkins was able to find an available room for the family to reside.
“I was like ‘Wow,’” Swaray-Akajo said to WNCN News of Hawkins’ generosity. “I kept on looking at the sky because I prayed and God sent somebody to come help us.”
Hawkins also bought toiletries and food to help the family get back on track.
But it didn’t stop there: other officers stepped in to help where they could.
Swaray-Akajo said what Hawkins and the police department did was beyond their duties as law enforcement officials.
“It’s not part of their job, but reaching out to those who really need help – I feel like they are like angels honestly.”
According to WNCN News, Swaray-Akajo has found a job and is close to finding a permanent residence.
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