In an effort to post more uplifting stories here, I found this.

Posted: Feb 23, 2017

with math homework after she requests help on Facebook. 10-year-old Lena Draper found help from her local police department’s Facebook page when she got stuck on a tricky math assignment and Lieutenant B.J. Gruber went above the call of duty to help the fifth-grader finish her homework assignment. The inquiry began with Lena’s simple question to the police department in Marion, Ohio: “I’m having trouble with my math homework. Could you help me?” She received back an auto-response from the Facebook page advising her that the police station does not monitor that particular mode of communication 24/7 and telling her what to do if there was an emergency or if she needed to speak to an officer. One would expect that the exchange would have ended there, but Lieutenant Gruber decided to help. A few hours later, he checked in on his normal task of managing the Marion Police Department Facebook page and decided to offer his assistance. Lena told the officer she was stuck on the equation (8+29)x15. He helped to explain that you do the work in the parentheses first, so she should start with 8+29=37, then multiply 37 by 15 to get the correct answer. She went on the ask for help with a slightly more intricate equation, (90+27)+(29+15)x2, and the officer offered his assistance again. Inside Edition interviewed young Lena and her mother, Molly Draper, when Molly’s screenshots of the conversation started gaining attention on Facebook. When asked why she asked the police department for help, Lena replied “I saw [the Marion Police Department] on YouTube, when a boy, a first grader, called the police with a problem… I thought they would know math, and they do.” When asked about helping Lena, Lieutenant Gruber said, "This is probably the most unique message I’ve ever had." He went on to tell Inside Edition that these interactions are the “… exact environment we try to nurture—this sense among children that not only can you come to us if you have a problem at home or at school, if we have the time, we can answer homework questions too.” The police lieutenant is a father himself, to four children, and was happy to help a young student out. “I love the idea of feeling like we’re meeting needs within the community… I love kids.” His concern for Lena did not stop after their Facebook conversation ended. He plans to “surprise [Lena] at school… with a T-shirt and other goodies to show the police department is supporting her every step of the way.” Lena’s mother was impressed with the care of the police officer as well. “I’m glad they took the time, because they have other things to do, but I thought it was fantastic.” ;