Cop sees homeless man without socks and shoes. Then officer goes to store and buys him boots

Not too many people think about how uncomfortable a homeless person must be when the temperatures drop, and even fewer people take the time to stop and see what they might need to keep warm, but New York police officer, Lawrence DePrimo, is not most people.

When interviewed, Officer DePrimo says that he asked the man, “Where’s your socks, where’s your shoes?” The man’s reply is devastating. DePrimo says the man told him, “I’ve never had a pair of shoes, it’s okay officer.”The 25-year-old officer proves that a single random act of kindness can change the world, as a picture of him giving a homeless man a pair of brand new boots made its way around the globe in less than two days. NYC tourist Jennifer Foster caught the officer offering a pair of all-weather boots to a shoeless homeless man and, without thought, snapped a photo without either of the two knowing. She sent the photo to the NYC police department, which then posted it on its Facebook page. The picture received 2 million views, over 400,000 likes, and 28,000 comments in just two days.

In a country built on consumerism, it is hard for many to imagine never owning a pair of shoes. The man’s response is one that entices feelings of sadness, yes, but also ones of gratefulness and appreciation for the opportunities afforded to us.

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Source: ABC News / YouTube

When the man told Officer DePrimo that he has never owned a pair of shoes before, DePrimo knew immediately that he had to help the man. It was when he returned with the shoes that Jennifer Foster snapped the picture. She overheard DePrimo say, “I have these size 12 all-weather boots for you – let’s take care of you.” Though the man said that the act of kindness was too much, he accepted the shoes and told Officer DePrimo, “God bless you, officer.” When asked about it later, DePrimo tells ABC News reporter, Dan Harris, “It was almost like [I] gave him a million dollars.”

Though Officer DePrimo does not know what has become of the homeless man or his boots, he keeps the receipt for the $75 purchase in his bulletproof vest as a reminder of the need that is so pervasive in our country.

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Source: ABC News / YouTube

According to reporter Dan Harris, Officer DePrimo is an “unfailingly polite 25-year-old who still lives with his mom and dad.” We say kudos to his mom and dad for raising such a compassionate and caring individual!

When you watch the video, you will see that Officer DePrimo is truly an altruistic individual, as when asked about the experience, everything was a matter of fact. It wasn’t “what can I get from doing this?” but rather, “You don’t have shoes, let’s take care of you.”

We hope that as the photo of Officer DePrimo makes its way across the globe, it inspires the kind of selfless compassion that he demonstrated to another human being with less. It’s small acts like this that can change the world.

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