Red and blue flashing lights in your rear view mirror are a universal sign that you’re in trouble. There is a slight chance you may get off with a warning, but the fear of a ticket is always the first think that pops into a driver’s head. Now imagine getting pulled over by a cop, and getting the relief of only being issued a warning, and then his asking if your child would like a toy for Christmas, or you would like a gift card to Starbucks.
In the quiet town of Nixa, Missouri, thats exactly what officer Joe Daughtery did.
With the help of one of the local businesses, Arvest Bank, Joe and a few staff members of the bank were able to make a few wishes come true during the holiday season. Once a few others heard of the kind gesture and good cause, they chipped in some of their own money to help get more gifts.
With a trunk load of toys, and a backseat full of coffee mugs and gift cards, they set out on Daughtery’s usual rounds. Not long into their drive he starts getting tailgated, and after they pass he turns on the lights and pulls them over to a part of the road he’s made sure is low traffic. Once he issues the woman a warning about the dangers of riding so close behind a cop car, and any other car for that matter, he asks if he can give her daughter a toy. Sort of in shock she agrees and the two head over to the cop car with the officer. The little girl is delighted at the toy she picked out and the mother is grateful for the kind gesture and coffee.
But the kindness didn’t stop there. The next man he pulls over for expired plates, and after being issued his warning, Daughtery asks if he would like a gift card for a cup of coffee. the man is shocked and happily accepts before he drives away thanking the officer.
“My fiancee is definitely not gonna believe I got pulled over for expired plates and got a gift card.” the man adds as he thanks the cop.
And the gifts keep flowing. From little girls, to a couple of young boys- everyone is excited to be receiving holiday gifts a little early.
But things got emotional with one of the last moms that he pulled over. As Daughtery pulled over a red Pontiac with no license plates whatsoever, a young mother got out of the car. She started tearing up when Daughtery said that he would like to give her daughter a Christmas gift. As the little girl rifles through the bags searching for the one that she wants, her mother quietly thanks them for this because she has no gifts to give her kids for the holidays.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate this. They’re not even getting Christmas because I can’t afford it, so this is really nice.” she says before shedding a few tears.
Back at the car Daughtery admits to getting a little choked up at that delivery. It just goes to show how impactful his actions were and how simply giving a gift to someone in need not only touches the person receiving the gift, but touches the one giving it.
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