Teen Spots A Suspicious Car Following Him Before The Driver Makes An Unsuspected Move
Jourdan Duncan became anxious when he saw the police cruiser pulling up slowly behind him. In his community, he'd seen plenty of interactions with the cops go south: tense arguments, unfair arrests, and worse. So, as the officer approached, Jourdan took a deep breath. Nothing, however, could prepare him for the weeks ahead.
Meet Officer Kirk Keffer
Kirk Keffer was the officer who spotted Jourdan. A veteran on the Benicia Police Department, he loved the California community he served in, and he'd seen just about everything over his career.
Making A Routine Stop
While out on patrol late one night in April of 2017, Officer Keffer thought it was strange to see the teenager, Jourdan, walking the streets by himself. The youth was out and alone in the wee hours, so he pulled up alongside the teen, wanting to help out.
Discovering Jourdan
The officer was naturally curious where the boy was heading. He soon learned 19-year-old Jourdan Duncan was returning home from his box-packing job at a nutritional supplement packaging plant not far away. So, Officer Keffer made a surprising request.
Offering A Ride
Wanting to lend a hand, Officer Keffer offered to drive Jourdan home to save time. It was during this car ride that Keffer learned just how dedicated the young man was to his work.
Jourdan's Long Walk
Not only did Jourdan walk to and from work every day, but he had to walk two hours each way to get there and back! This kid was commuting the length of half his shift on foot, and the reason why touched Keffer's heart.
A Major Dream
Jourdan didn't have a car, which meant he needed to walk to get to work. Not only did he have a dream of college on his mind, but he actually wanted to eventually become a California Highway Patrol officer.
"Nothing He Couldn't Accomplish"
Jourdan was setting aside a chunk of money to help out his parents as well. Keffer said, "I just had to shake his hand. I told him I admired his work ethic and there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish." Their friendship, however, was just beginning.
No Obstacle Too Big
Keffer continued to heap on praise. "Most people use distance and not having a car as an excuse not to find a job. This kid — it wasn’t an obstacle. He just wanted to get to work."
Purchasing A Surprise
In fact, Officer Keffer was so touched by the boy's drive to succeed that he went one step further than just words of wisdom. He, along with a few other officers, shelled out $500 for a new bike!
Night Of The Unveiling
Keffer didn't want a a four-hour commute to stop the young man with such a drive to succeed. So, the officers showed up at Jourdan's job one evening with his new gift.
"Stunned And Flabbergasted"
Jourdan could not believe his eyes when the team of officers rolled up with his new bike. He admitted to feeling "stunned and flabbergasted." He was even more blown away by Officer Keffer's message.
Recognizing Hard Work
Keffer told Jourdan, "Hey, we just want to recognize you for your hard work and dedication. We just wanted to help you with your commute back and forth and we hope you will accept this bike on our behalf." The bike wasn't Keffer's first plan, however.
Settling On A Bike
Funny enough, Keffer initially thought about getting Jourdan a car, but that idea was shot down. Keffer spoke about the conversation with his supervisor. "He’s like,’We can’t get him a car.’ So I thought what about a bike? He’s like, ‘Yeah, absolutely.'”
GoFundMe Assistance
With a bike, the seven miles Jourdan traveled to work was nothing, at least not when compared to the two-hour trek he made on foot. The officers weren't done, yet, though. They set up a GoFundMe.
Surpassing The Goal
The initial goal to reach was $10,000 to help pay for Jourdan's college expenses, and within only a few days, the target was reached. People loved this heartwarming story so much that the amount was raised to $50,000 — and exceeded!
Officer Keffer's Special Recognition
The Benicia police force was also quick to recognize the charitable action of Officer Keffer. It wasn't every day someone on the force was given the opportunity to change a life, but Keffer lucked out.
Keeping The Dream Alive
Once the school semester started up, Jourdan enrolled in law enforcement classes at California's Solano Community College, keeping his dream of working as an officer alive and well. He even upgraded to a Volkswagen Passat for the commute!
Help Is Rarely Forgotten
Keffer said of the department's role in the community, "We're not all about crime and punishment. We're out there to improve the quality of life whenever we can." And it's not just Keffer's department who seeks to help. As community member Tisha Beauchmin can attest, help given by a caring town is rarely forgotten by those receive it.
A Busy Life and A Simple Request
Tisha, who lived in the Vegas suburbs with her husband Kevin, both worked full-time and were raising five kids. But in 2017, when Tisha's neighbor Audrey asked if she'd watch Audrey's three kids during an unexpected hospital visit, Tisha said yes to the biggest, most irregular adventure of her entire life.
Just Neighbors
Neighbors Tisha and Audrey didn't even know each other that well. Audrey was a single mom down the block, and one of her daughters happened to be friends with one of Tisha's daughters. When Audrey needed to go get some last minute tests, she had nowhere else to turn.
Unexpected News
The next morning, the test results came back. Audrey called Tisha and asked her to break the news to her kids: she had stage two esophageal cancer, and while she was okay for the time being, her future hung in the balance.
Real Trouble
Tisha agreed to keep watching the kids while Audrey got treated; after all, it was the least she could do for a neighbor. However, it wasn't long before doctors came back with an even more shocking prognosis. They gave Audrey only a few months to live.
An Urgent Ask
She was getting sicker day by day, and there wasn't much time left. Audrey called Tisha, desperate. "Can you take care of my children when I go?" she asked. Tisha was stunned.
The Only Answer
What else could she do? The only other option was foster care, and Tisha had been through the foster system herself. She knew it was no way for a kid to grow up. Children need stability and a loving home. So she told Audrey yes.
Welcoming Newcomers
Shortly afterward, Audrey passed, and her kids moved into the Beauchmin house. It was a no-brainer for Tisha. She added three places to the dinner table, rearranged the sleeping situations a bit, and welcomed the kids with open arms. The house was a little cramped and things got messy, but that was that.
Bumps In The Road
However, when Tisha and Kevin filled out the paperwork to become Audrey's kids' legal guardians, the situation got tricky. They couldn't get approved as foster parents because their home was too small. And even though both parents worked, Tisha worried whether the money would continue to feed everybody.
Secret Helper
Unbeknownst to Tisha, their community saw them struggling and wanted to help out. The Beauchmins' neighbor, Elizabeth Thames, reached out to local TV station FOX 5 News. She knew the station had a team, called the Surprise Squad, who helped locals in need.
The Team Swoops In
When the Surprise Squad got wind of the story, they recognized they had a special family on their hands. So they loaded up a video crew in their car and drove down to the Beauchmin home to pay them a visit.
Unannounced Visit
Caught offguard, Tisha opened the door. Her dog was barking, and she had a million things to do — who were these strangers on the porch? But when they explained they'd been sent by her neighbor Elizabeth, she let them inside.
Eye-opening Accommodations
The Surprise Squad was astonished by the family's adjustment to the new living situation. The two oldest Beauchmin kids, Holly and Chad, were sleeping in the kitchen and the living room after giving up their rooms for the younger kids. This was just one change.
Up Against A Wall
The family had even converted their loft into a sleeping space for the youngest boys, but the foster care system required them to install a wall to make it a real bedroom. That was the big problem: the cost of putting the wall in was more than they could afford.
A Sudden Relief
"I can't lose these kids," Tisha said. "I may not have had them in my belly, but I have them in my heart." That's when the Squad dropped the big news.
The Plan Behind the Curtains
The Surprise Squad already had a construction team ready to build the wall, and they'd give the family an all-expense-paid stay at a local resort during the construction! Tisha's reaction was newsworthy.
Immense Gratitude
Tisha broke down into tears. This was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for them, and as they packed their bags for the hotel stay, she kept thanking the FOX 5 team over and over. Little did she know, the kindness wouldn't stop there.
Going Above And Beyond
As soon as the family had left, the Surprise Squad moved all of their furniture out of the house, so they could deep clean, paint the walls, and replace carpeting and doors. They also got to work fixing up the landscaping outside the home.
Community Support
Gone were the old beds and worn-out furniture. Local furniture stores donated new couches, tables, chairs, beds, and shelving to the family's cause. The local Nissan dealership even donated a brand new twelve-passenger van.
Better Than Ever
When the Beauchmins returned, they couldn't believe their eyes. Not only was the house redone, but their friends and family had come to welcome them home. As they walked through the newly renovated rooms, their shock grew.
An Unbelievable Surprise
Not only did the kids now have spaces and furniture to call their own, but also had new bedding, games, school supplies, and decor. Holly wouldn't have to sleep in the kitchen any more, and Chad received $1500 to go towards getting his own apartment.
No One Goes Hungry
There was one more surprise left. The Squad told the family they'd be receiving a year's worth of free groceries from the local grocery store. They'd be able to save money and keep everyone fed, and wouldn't have to stress about it any more.
Overwhelming Thanks
The whole family cried tears of happiness. Relieved and overjoyed, Tisha and Kevin had nothing but gratitude for their community. "I didn't do anything too special, I did what anybody in my shoes would have done," Tisha said.
Happy Together
Now, at the end of a tough year, they could truly enjoy their Christmas miracle. "It's just really overwhelming that somebody would do this for [us] and for [our] family," said Tisha. It was a Christmas they'd never forget.
No comments: