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Single Mother With $7 To Her Name Donates Scratch Card Win To Injured Police Officer

Single Mother With $7 To Her Name Donates Scratch Card Win To Injured Police Officer

Shetara Sims, from Kansas City in Missouri, had purchased a scratch card after finding $1 in a parking lot, later finding out she’d won $100

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A generous single mother decided to donate her winnings from a lottery ticket to a police officer who had been shot, despite having just $7 (£5.50) to her name after losing her job.

Shetara Sims, from Kansas City in Missouri, had purchased a scratch card after finding $1 (78p) in a parking lot, later finding out she'd scooped a $100 (£78) jackpot.

But rather than pocketing the much-needed cash, her 12-year-old daughter Rakiya Edmonson suggested they give the cash to an officer who is currently in intensive care after being shot in the line of duty on 2 July.

Despite struggling to pay bills after losing her role due to the pandemic, Sims agreed to donate the money - saying she wanted to help the local police force after they were there for the family when her older daughter was murdered in 2012.

She told WBMF: "The detectives were really there for us. They were there for us more than anyone I can imagine. They did things they didn't have to do.

KMBC/CNN

"They came to see my kids. They did a lot. They were fathers, therapists. They were everything.

"I never seen the empathy that they had from strangers. They just gave us hope. They were good for us."

Now the Kansas City Missouri Police Department has set up a GoFundMe page to say thank you, originally hoping to raise $10,000 (£7,800) for the selfless mother.

However, at the time of writing, the campaign has more than doubled its target, with people pledging more than $26,000 (£20,000) for Sims.

Sims pictured on the left with KCPD social worker Brooke and Officer Earle.
GoFundMe

The fundraiser page said: "A woman called the Kansas City Missouri Police Department July 10. She wanted to help the officer who was shot July 2 and remains in the ICU.

"We (the KCPD) advised he's well cared for, but if she wanted to donate for restaurant or gas station gift cards for his family so they can eat at and travel to/from the hospital, we were accepting those at East Patrol Division.

"She went on to say she lives in the urban core of Kansas City, and her daughter was murdered in 2012. She said the detectives who worked her daughter's case were like her therapists, fathers, and lifelines all in one."

The department said they had urged Sims to keep the money due to her 'current financial hardship', but she refused.

Realising Sims wouldn't budge, they decided to set up a fundraiser to raise money for her instead, saying her 'act of kindness has touched Kansas City'.

To donate to Sims, head to Kansas City Missouri Police Department GoFundMe page.

Featured Image Credit: KMBC/CNN

Topics: News, US News, Lottery