After a display of kindness that was both extraordinary and typical of Kansas City, the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is helping to direct some of that kindness back to its original source.On Monday, we first told you the story of a woman contacting Kansas City police to donate winnings of a lucky lottery ticket to the family of a KCPD officer wounded in the line of duty. According to police, they assured the woman that the officer was well cared for, but she refused and insisted the officer’s family needed it and “police needed to know they were supported.” “She said she was laid off a month ago due to COVID-19, and she’s been struggling to pay her bills,” KCPD said in a Facebook post. “She went to the grocery store last week and found a $1 bill in the parking lot. She used that to buy a lottery ticket, with which she won $100.”Police said the woman’s 12-year-old daughter said the money should go to the officer that got shot, and the woman agreed immediately.“With her current financial hardship, we urged her to keep the money,” KCPD said on Facebook. “She refused, saying the officer’s family needed it, and police needed to know they were supported.”The woman told officers she lives in the urban core of Kansas City, and her daughter was murdered in 2012. Police said the woman told them the detectives who worked her daughter’s case “were like her therapists, fathers, and lifelines all in one.”Police were both “floored and incredibly humbled” by the woman’s gesture.As it turns out, others in Kansas City were, too.Police said after the story was released, hundreds of people reached out saying they wanted to help the woman who donated the lottery ticket winnings. But, when she called, the woman didn’t leave her name and the number was listed as unknown. Police went to work trying to track her down.“We finally found her,” police said on Twitter Friday.The woman is Shetara Sims.Police reached back out to Sims to tell her about everyone calling to help after hearing about her act of kindness.“She still said, ‘But what about the injured officer? Doesn’t he need it more?’” police said in a tweet.The department finally convinced Sims to allow an account to be set up for her needs.Now the department is asking for your help. If you were one of the people who contacted police asking about the woman who donated, or if you were moved by her story, you can donate to a fund that will directly benefit her now. A GoFundMe has been created with a $5,000 starting goal for the single mother. Police said they plan on sharing more about her story on Monday, and tweeted a photo of Sims with Brooke who is a department social worker, and Officer Earle, who both were able to tell Sims about the outpouring of support after her act of kindness. Click here to view the GoFundMe.
After a display of kindness that was both extraordinary and typical of Kansas City, the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is helping to direct some of that kindness back to its original source.
On Monday, we first told you the story of a woman contacting Kansas City police to donate winnings of a lucky lottery ticket to the family of a KCPD officer wounded in the line of duty.
According to police, they assured the woman that the officer was well cared for, but she refused and insisted the officer’s family needed it and “police needed to know they were supported.”
“She said she was laid off a month ago due to COVID-19, and she’s been struggling to pay her bills,” KCPD said in a Facebook post. “She went to the grocery store last week and found a $1 bill in the parking lot. She used that to buy a lottery ticket, with which she won $100.”
Police said the woman’s 12-year-old daughter said the money should go to the officer that got shot, and the woman agreed immediately.
“With her current financial hardship, we urged her to keep the money,” KCPD said on Facebook. “She refused, saying the officer’s family needed it, and police needed to know they were supported.”
The woman told officers she lives in the urban core of Kansas City, and her daughter was murdered in 2012. Police said the woman told them the detectives who worked her daughter’s case “were like her therapists, fathers, and lifelines all in one.”
Police were both “floored and incredibly humbled” by the woman’s gesture.
As it turns out, others in Kansas City were, too.
Police said after the story was released, hundreds of people reached out saying they wanted to help the woman who donated the lottery ticket winnings.
But, when she called, the woman didn’t leave her name and the number was listed as unknown. Police went to work trying to track her down.
“We finally found her,” police said on Twitter Friday.
The woman is Shetara Sims.
Police reached back out to Sims to tell her about everyone calling to help after hearing about her act of kindness.
“She still said, ‘But what about the injured officer? Doesn’t he need it more?’” police said in a tweet.
The department finally convinced Sims to allow an account to be set up for her needs.
Now the department is asking for your help. If you were one of the people who contacted police asking about the woman who donated, or if you were moved by her story, you can donate to a fund that will directly benefit her now.
A GoFundMe has been created with a $5,000 starting goal for the single mother.
Police said they plan on sharing more about her story on Monday, and tweeted a photo of Sims with Brooke who is a department social worker, and Officer Earle, who both were able to tell Sims about the outpouring of support after her act of kindness.
Click here to view the GoFundMe.