Officers Matthew Jackson and Howard Ray were working in the 11th District police station Friday when a homeless woman with two young sets of twins came in. The family, from South Dakota, had been homeless for two days before they showed up to the station.
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"I walk into the station and I saw a single parent crying, 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 the officers used detective work to track down her mother.
"I knew she had four children, I didn't know I was going to have four children!" Patricia Tillman, grandmother, said.
Tillman didn't have any of the material things she needed to take care of her grandchildren, so officers Jackson and Ray collected food, clothing and other supplies, and dropped them off at her home Monday.
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"When we put the clothes on the table, and the toys, they were jumping everywhere. Like jumping jacks, they were jumping everywhere. The little girl recognized me and she was saying, 'Officer Ray! Officer Ray!'" Ray said.
"I'm so grateful that they helped me, showed their love and caring," Tillman said.
The officers are asking local churches, community organizations and neighbors to help as well. They are accepting donations at the 11th District Police Station in the city's East Garfield Park neighborhood.