When you’re a kid, you learn pretty quickly that cops aren’t to be messed with. They’re the stern men and women who chase bad guys with scary equipment. Maybe your mom even threatened to call the police when you were naughty from time to time.

Of course, it doesn’t take long to learn that cops are just like me and you – and they usually just want what’s best for the community. But this isn’t always immediately obvious to kids.

So when 9-year-old Brooke Yost couldn’t afford a dozen donuts at a gas station, she probably thought the state trooper queuing behind her would arrest her.

But not having enough money for donuts isn’t a crime – it’s just pretty depressing!

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 note 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.”

Brooke’s actions are proof that positivity is contagious. If you’ve been inspired by this story, why not spread your own kindness? Don’t forget to watch the video below and share it around.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Article Sources:

CBS Pittsburgh/ YouTube

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By Laura Shallcross

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Laura Shallcross is a contributor at SBLY Media.