INGLESIDE, Texas — Ruth Ryles was in a difficult position when her car ran out of gas along FM 1069 in Ingleside back in November.
Then, some of the city's police officers came cruising by.
"She was so gracious that they actually saw her and stopped, because she didn’t know what to do," Ingleside Police Chief Tammy Burr said.
Officers helped Ryles get to a gas station, where she filled up her tank before going on her way.
In the two months that followed, Ryles told Ingleside police she contemplated how to thank the officers who helped her.
“She talked it over with her family, and they said, ‘Well, if you want to donate, why don’t you donate to those who helped you?" Burr said.
Ryles did just that on Monday.
After setting up a meeting with her, Ryles thanked Burr for her officers' efforts.
Ryles then gave Burr a $100 check for the department's Blue Santa program, which provides toys to underprivileged children at Christmas.
One of the officers who helped Ryles said Blue Santa, and his efforts back in November, are all about connecting with the community he serves.
"Whenever we’re able to meet people and take a little time to interact with them and ask how things are going, it’s always a good thing," Officer Gilliam, who preferred not to give his first name, said.
Burr agrees, and she said it's also a good thing for her officers to receive some recognition for their efforts.
“I’m just so pleased that she found it in her heart and let us know what our officers had done," Burr said. "They go out there everyday and do a great job, and it’s very seldom that that gets recognized."
