The police offer assistance to a father who is homeless and residing in a car with his ten-year-old daughter.
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Sometimes life can throw us a series of suffering so long that they seem endless, but, fortunately, even the darkest nights end with the dawn. Mr. James Schweihard, a 41-year-old American single father who found himself on the street with his 10-year-old daughter, knows this well.
They only had a small van, but after several attempts to find a job or a house in Oklahoma, James decided to move to Colorado in search of a better life. When he couldn’t find a place to live, he started living with his daughter in a van.
They arrived in Colorado in the summer, and James immediately enrolled his daughter in school, and he found a part-time job to survive. His daughter’s teachers suspected that the child was living in inappropriate conditions and reported their concerns to the Lakewood police. Constable Butler immediately went to see what was going on. Meanwhile, things got even worse for James: his van stopped working, and, unable to drive to work, he was fired. When James saw Constable Butler, he flinched, fearing that his precarious position would cost him custody of his daughter, but instead something unexpected happened.
The police hired a tow truck at their own expense and repaired the car for free. The mechanic-repairman was so touched by the story of the young father that he decided to spread the information to help him find a new job and a home. Soon James received at least five job offers and a small house with affordable rent. The 41-year-old man gladly accepted one of the job offers and was amazed at how quickly the police were able to solve the problems that he had been suffering for almost two years.
The news reached the entire Lakewood community, and almost every resident offered financial help, emergency supplies, and anything they could to help James and his daughter start life anew. One person donated dishes, another a refrigerator, a third a bed, furniture, and so on.
«It restored my faith in humanity. I have no words to express my joy and gratitude,» commented James.
«It’s about being part of the community. I’m amazed that we were able to do this so quickly. I was always taught to help more, not less. James did most of the organizing,» explained Sgt. Dave Hoover: «Now he has to act, this is the starting point. We are confident that he will continue this journey and do his best,» he added.
It remains only to wish him good luck.
