Small acts of kindness can make a world of difference for people. For many, it can be hard to find time or opportunities to help in their busy lives. They want to help but don’t know how. Brian Zagorski, a police officer in Niles, Illinois, just so happened to stumble upon the opportunity. Literally.

Stumbling onto the opportunity

Last week, Officer Zagorski saw a homeless man trip on the worn out rubber soles of his shoes. He struck up a conversation with the homeless man and offered him a bag of toiletries and supplies as a part of a program at the police department called Bag of H.O.P.E. The man declined.

Finding a way to help

Officer Zagorski then asked him for his shoe size. Seeing that the homeless man wore the same shoe size as him, Officer Zagorski took his shoes off and handed them to the homeless man. The policeman offered him more help, but he declined and walked away sporting his new shoes.

The response

“I was happy,” Zagosrki said to WGN-TV. “I made a difference, and that’s essentially what we sign up to do, is to make a difference.”

Zagorski has not seen the homeless man since he gave him his shoes; however, he said he is keeping an eye out to see if the man needs anything else.

Zagorski’s good deed hasn’t gone unnoticed. People have been praising him, saying that he is the kind of officers we need.

When Zagorski joined the Niles Police Department, he wanted to make a difference in the community. He never would’ve thought he’d be doing so by giving his own shoes to a man in need, but if the shoe fits, right?