How did Officer Jamie Pastorello first meet Rhea Holmes?

Officer Pastorello encountered Rhea Holmes on December 13, 2025, when he offered her a ride as she struggled to carry groceries.

Where was Rhea Holmes living before she received help?

Rhea Holmes had been living homeless at a cemetery for about eight months, sleeping on a tarp near her husband's grave.

What was the outcome of Officer Pastorello's efforts to help Rhea Holmes?

Officer Pastorello raised over $27,000 through a GoFundMe and helped Rhea Holmes secure a furnished home, moving in on January 5, 2026.

Home / Lifestyle / Kind Cop Finds Homeless Woman, Offers Lifeline

Kind Cop Finds Homeless Woman, Offers Lifeline

31 Jan

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Summary

Officer offered a ride to a woman carrying groceries.
The woman had been homeless, living near her husband's grave.
The officer raised funds and secured her a new home.

Kind Cop Finds Homeless Woman, Offers Lifeline

On December 13, 2025, Officer Jamie Pastorello of the Syracuse Police Department encountered Rhea Holmes, a woman struggling with groceries. Holmes revealed she was headed to her late husband's grave, and during their conversation, Pastorello learned she had been homeless for eight months.

Holmes had been sleeping on a tarp at the cemetery, surviving on limited resources. After her husband's death in 2020, she lost her job and housing, eventually choosing the cemetery for safety despite harsh winter conditions.

Moved by her situation, Officer Pastorello initiated a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $27,000. He assured Holmes she would not sleep outside again. She was subsequently provided with a furnished home by a local organization on January 5, 2026.