Two Chicago police officers put their community outreach skills to use when they helped a homeless single mother and her two sets of twins.

Officers Matthew Jackson and Howard Ray, with the 11th District, saw the woman crying at their police station where she had come for help after the local shelter didn't have space for the family. According to CBS Chicago, the woman had returned to Chicago after leaving an abusive relationship in South Dakota.

“I walk into the station, and I saw a single parent crying, a single mother crying with her four children,” Jackson told ABC7 Chicago.

Jackson and Ray worked together to track down the woman's mother who opened her home to her daughter and four grandchildren. But the officers' assistance didn't stop there. Jackson and Ray supplied the grandmother with necessary items to care for four children including food, clothes and toys.

"I'm so grateful that they helped me, showed their love and caring," said Patricia Tillman, the children's grandmother.


Jackson and Ray are asking local churches, community organizations and neighbors to help the family as well. They'll be accepting donations at the 11th District Police Station located in the city's East Garfield Park neighborhood.

We definitely need more officers like Jackson and Ray policing our streets. Kudos to them for caring for this family in their time of need!