Teen Calls 911 for Ride, Gets Christmas Instead

Calling 911 for anything other than an emergency is not only frowned upon, it’s illegal.

For a 15-year-old Palm Beach Gardens boy, the thought of missing school was an emergency. And, since his family’s cellphone was specially issued to call 911, his options for reaching out for help were limited.

Fortunately for him, the person who answered his call was Palm Beach Gardens Officer Beth Fedorenchik, according to the Delray Beach Police Department’s Facebook page.

Fedorenchik not only understood the teen couldn’t get a ride from his mom, who works up to 16 hours a day, but that also his family was in a bit of a bind, WPBF reported.

When Fedorenchik noticed no furniture inside the home, she asked the teen about the holidays. He told her his family wasn’t in a position to celebrate, the station reported.

Determined to remedy that, Fedorenchik turned to officers from her agency and those at the nearby Delray Beach department.

“Officers from both departments worked together to get this family living room furniture, dining room furniture, a Christmas tree, Christmas decorations and what the boy and his brothers wanted most – a PlayStation 3,” Delray police posted on Facebook.

See Also:

• Watch: Cops Make Little Girl’s Christmas Wish Come True
• Florida Police Release World’s Cutest Holiday Public Service Announcement

Similar stories are cropping up all over the Tampa Bay area as local law enforcement agencies do their part to help make sure less fortunate residents have a happy holiday season. Deputies and officers from Sarasota all the way to Pasco have hosted food and toy drives with some officers taking time out to bring special little recipients toy shopping in person.

In Boynton Beach, a similar 911 call from a little girl also resulted in an early Christmas gift courtesy of that department.

“We are so proud of all the officers involved,” Delray Beach police wrote. “They truly #LEADtheWay!”