These days, it often seems like negative stories about police officers make the news, which is why it’s so great that a story about cops stepping up to do something kind for an elderly woman in need is going viral this week!

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police recently went above and beyond to help out an elderly woman after learning that she had resorted to burning furniture to stay warm in the freezing cold winter.

It all started when officers were called in to assist paramedics at a residence in the small village of Midway, British Columbia. After the elderly man in need of medical attention was rushed off to the hospital, one of the officers took it upon himself to go back into the home to check on his wife.

The scene that he came upon was nothing short of heartbreaking.

“The officer interrupted the elderly woman as she was in the process of breaking up household furniture to burn, in the home’s wood stove, for heat,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesperson for the B.C. RCMP’s Southeast District, told Global News.

Without hesitating, the officer stepped up and took action.

“The officer immediately rounded up the troops, who travelled into the backcountry to chop wood, which they sorted, split, delivered and stacked for the local elder,” O’Donaghey continued.

Coast Mountain News reported that the officer and his fellow cops returned from the forest with two SUVs full of wood ready for the elderly woman’s stove. She could not believe her eyes when she saw what they had done for her!

“She was pretty overwhelmed,” said Cpl. Phil Peters, one of the officers involved.

O’Donaghey went on to add that this is a perfect example of officers with the RCMP stepping up to help others in their time of need.

“We hope this small act of kindness encourages other British Columbians to step up, reach out to those around them and help out where they can,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Brad Haugli, District Commander of the RCMP’s Southeast District, has since praised the officers for their “tremendous compassion,” adding that they are “leaders” in community. God bless them for helping this woman when she needed it, and for putting their own lives on the line every day to protect their community!