We all take things for granted in our lives.

One of the biggest things is food. Good food can be the difference between a happy moment and a bad one, a good day or a terrible one – and the police officer in this story certainly knows this to be true.

https://www.facebook.com/BarnesNC/posts/10218379887662317

A bypasser captured a heartwarming moment between an officer and a homeless woman.

Cassie Lea Barnes was on her lunch break when she discovered a police officer sharing his lunch with a homeless woman. Her partner Chris Barnes then shared the photo Cassie took to Facebook.

https://twitter.com/SandyS_27/status/1251252195003154432

“Cassie was out on her lunch break and observed Goldsboro’s Finest enjoying lunch with a homeless person. Law enforcement does so much for our community, with a lot of it going unnoticed. We see you Goldsboro P.D. Keep up the good work.”

According to the National Law Center, the leading causes of homelessness in the United States are lack of affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, mental illness (and the lack of available services), and substance abuse (and the lack of available services).

For women, however, the leading cause of homelessness is domestic violence.

That is why it is so important we don’t just turn a blind eye to this issue. It’s not the person’s fault and it could happen to any of us.

Hats off to officer Michael Rivers of @GoldsboroPolice in Goldsboro NC. In 2020 he saw a woman wearing a shirt saying "#Homeless, the fastest way of becoming a nobody", asked her if she was #hungry, bought a #pizza and sat down with her and had lunch. Thank him for his #service. pic.twitter.com/1jxIcepf5d

— Billy MacLeod (@BillyMacLeod) July 9, 2021

A 9-year veteran of the Goldsboro Police Department in North Carolina, Officer Michael Rivers has come to know many of the homeless souls in his neighbors. He doesn’t always know their names, but he remembers their faces.

He didn’t recognize this woman, but her t-shirt caught his attention.

Her shirt read,

“Homeless. The fastest way of becoming a nobody.”

The men and women of #BPD applaud the humanity, empathy and compassion of Goldsboro, NC, Police Officer Michael Rivers who saw a homeless woman in need and did something about it. Said Officer Rivers: "God put it on my heart to get her lunch. So, I did." https://t.co/dhOtdqhhPH pic.twitter.com/vhfodw6MX1

— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) March 13, 2020

He was going to drive away after noticing the woman but something compelled him to stay.

“God put it on my heart to get her lunch. So I turned around and I asked her, ‘Hey, did you eat today?’ And she said, ‘No.’” the Officer said to CNN.

The Officer then went to a local pizza place and bought them both a cheese and pepperoni pizza.

He then returned to the woman and the two ate lunch together.

Rivers would later say the pizza was good but he enjoyed the conversation more.

GOOD NEWS: Officer Michael Rivers has come to know the faces of those struggling with homelessness in his community, but he saw someone new on Wednesday, and her shirt caught his attention.

It read: "Homeless. The fastest way of becoming a nobody."https://t.co/7LYluPDmiz pic.twitter.com/0BQGf6XQTY

— KSL NewsRadio (@kslnewsradio) March 13, 2020

“Learn from this beautiful interaction. Acknowledge the homeless, don’t forget they’re people just like you and me. There’s nothing wrong with a warm smile and a friendly hello. A little chit-chat doesn’t hurt either,” wrote @Tinks Gill.

Officer Michael Rivers seen spending his lunch break with a homeless woman and shared pizza with her!

Can Michael get a huge "thank you" for being so selfless?! pic.twitter.com/KnqpC1NDnW

— Big Dan Rodimer (@DanRodimer) March 17, 2020

After the picture was posted to Facebook, it went viral and Officer Rivers received a lot of attention. He even received letters in the mail. No, not emails – literal letters sent with a stamp and everything.

“Letters that were sent to me today in reference the Facebook post by Cassie Lea Parker and CNN. A lot of People have been reaching out and it’s so amazing to see what one picture has done. #spreadthelove” Officer Rivers wrote on social media.

One simple kind-hearted gesture can have long-reaching impacts. Perhaps some of the people who have read and been inspired by this story will look for opportunities to be kind-hearted as well. Maybe you reading this are one of those people.

Learn more about this inspiring story in the video below.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: ABC 11/Cassie Lea Barnes