If you read, watch, or listen to the news on a regular basis, it might seem like nothing good ever happens in the world. In fact the news can often be downright depressing with a daily stream of stories about wars, poverty, murder and greed happening. If you were starting to wonder what was wrong with the world though this story may go a little way to restoring your faith in humanity.

A tourist’s photograph of a New York policeman has gone viral and in this case for all the right reasons. The police officer was snapped giving a pair of brand new socks and insulated shoes, that he had just bought, to a shoeless homeless man. The policeman took pity on the homeless guy back on November 14th after he noticed him barefooted with massive blisters on his feet on a freezing night. He decided to go into a nearby shoe store to buy a brand new pair of $75 insulated shoes and some socks. This was a random act of kindness and was not for publicity or attention. Since then the police officer has been publicly named as Larry DePrimo, 25, who has been on the force for two years.

The NYPD (and police in the US in general) often get a bad reputation. This could go some way to explaining why there has been such a huge interest in this story in the US. It is also good to read a positive news story in amongst such doom and gloom that is so often publicised in the media as opposed to the good that is happening. The story is extremely heart-warming and especially what is needed in these cold times. It has definitely struck a chord with people far across the globe with over 322, 000 likes on the Facebook post, and comments from across the world!

Does this story restore your faith in humanity?