It happens every night - police officers reaching in to their own pockets to help the people they meet while they're out on the street.
In Cobb County, the owner of Best Little Dog House kept hearing about these acts of kindness, and wanted to help the officers provide for their community.
She asked her clients to donate cash and gift cards so the officers weren't spending their own money, and as 11Alive's Kaitlyn Ross reports, it's the community giving back to itself.
"A lot of times our officers go completely unnoticed for the kind acts that they do," said Cobb County Community Affairs Officer Sarah O'Hara.
O'Hara says most people have no idea how much police officers give of themselves for the community they serve.
"Sometimes, on Facebook you'll see a picture of someone changing a tire. But you don't see the meals, you don't see the hotel rooms, the shoes," she said.
One Officer in Cobb County would wait until the end of his shift every night and buy hot chocolate for the homeless men and women sleeping at the bus stop.
"Before this program, our officers never said anything about it," she said.
That's where the Best Little Dog House comes in. Owner Robin Fulmer loved the heart these officers were showing, but didn't want them using their own money to do it.
She started a foundation - just with her clients - and board member Liz Christopher says everyone wanted to give.
"It was exciting to be involved in something that was giving back to the police and the community," Christopher said.
They started collecting spare change and gift cards for the officers to give out to people who they saw in need out on patrol. In just four months, they've raised $4,000.
It's that type of kindness they want to see more of.
"There's a lot more positive than negative with the police, and I feel like we highlight too much of the negative and not enough of the good they're doing," Christopher said.
The negativity gets to the officers. They understand most people don't expect this.
"A lot of times people don't want to talk to the police, they don't want anything to do with us," O'Hara said.
But this program - community members giving police officers to power to help their community in such a meaningful way - it's an important change.
"We're not arresting their uncle, we're not pulling them over for running a stop sign, it's saying, you have a need, and we are connecting you with resources," O'Hara said. "All around it's a great program and we are really thankful they are partnering with us to spread hope."
If anyone wishes to help, they can do so at the Best Little Dog House website.