CHICAGO, IL (WLS/CNN) - A pair of Chicago police officers who encountered a homeless woman and her four children went beyond the call of duty.
They helped track down her family.
Officers Matthew Jackson and Howard Ray said that the family from South Dakota tugged at their hearts.
They had been homeless for two days before they showed up at the police station on Friday.
"I walked into the station and saw a single mother crying with her four children," Jackson said.
Police couldn't find a shelter that would take the family in.
The woman had lost contact with her family, but officers used detective work to track down her mother, Patricia Tillman.
"I knew she had four children, I didn't know I was going to have four children," Tillman said.
Tillman didn't have any of the material things she needed to take care of her grandchildren.
Officers Jackson and Ray collected food, clothing and other supplies, then dropped them off at her home Tuesday.
"When we put the clothes and toys on the table, they were jumping everywhere like jumping jacks,” Ray said.
"I'm so grateful that they helped me, they have shown love, kindness and caring," Tillman said.
The officers are asking local churches, community groups and neighbors to continue providing help for the family.
Copyright 2017 WLS via CNN. All rights reserved.
