Before the deluge of community support and warming hearts, there was the first meeting between three young homeless people and Dunwoody police officers.
The cops found them hanging around a closed business at 1 a.m. Monday.
One officer figured out that the three stick together for safety. They were friendly and respectful to the police, just having a hard time and trying to stay warm in the November bite.
One of the young people said he was trying to get home to Biloxi, Mississippi. He wanted to see his ill grandfather "before it is too late."
The police were touched by his plight.
They put their money together and bought him a bus ticket.
The Dunwoody Police Department told this story early Tuesday morning on Facebook. The cops weren't done helping.
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They had noticed the homeless trio's clothes didn't look winter-worthy. The department posted a list of needed items — coats, long johns, shoes, sleeping bags.
"In the past" the post said, "the residents of Dunwoody have always helped us help others and we're hoping you all can help with this situation."
The community indeed could help.
By Tuesday night, the police department housed a huge load of clothes and supplies.
"They had a chance to go through and pick out what they needed,” Lt. Fidel Espinoza said in an update on Facebook. “They left with backpacks full.”
He was "overjoyed and proud" of the officers for noticing people in need and doing what they could to help. He felt the same about the people who saw the Facebook request and pitched in.
"Quite honestly we couldn’t’ve done what we did without the community support," he said.
