An El Paso police officer bought a pair of boots for an 83-year-old homeless man who wandered into Lowe's Home Improvement store hoping to escape from the freezing temperatures. Employees asked if the man (Charles Holder) if needed help and he asked them if he could stay until close because he had nowhere else to go. He hadn't eaten in days, and was teary-eyed when he told employees he was on a diet. A customer offered him a $20 bill, but he refused. They were able to find him a shelter to take him in for the night but transportation was a problem.

When Officer Joe Flores arrived to help, Charles thought he was in trouble. But Flores spoke to him with a warm, respectful tone, and asked about his shoe size. Charles said he didn't know because he only wore what he found. The officer then bought him a pair of heavy-duty leather boots, along with a three-pair package of socks. Crying, Charles said he didn't have anything to pay him back with. Instead of money he handed over a small plastic bag of treats he'd been saving, which employees figured was to be his dinner.