CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WKBW) — The last month has been tough on Michelle Hamilton and her family.
“Our house unfortunately caught on fire due to fireworks, so we’ve been displaced since I think it was the 20th,” she said.
For the last month, her family has been staying at Millennium Hotel in Cheektowaga. But while staying there, they made a friend. Lieutenant Caleb Harte.
Hamilton said her partner stopped Lt. Harte after he completed a disturbance call at the Millennium.
"He was like my son loves the police. Would you mind coming up and talking to him," Hamilton said.
Their son is 4-year-old Calen Simms Jr.
“My names Caleb, he’s Calen and we just have this immediate bond,” Harte said.
Harte and Hamilton keep in touch, and he finds out why the family is in the Millennium and that it is almost Calen's birthday.
“I’m like I don’t know what I'm gonna do for his birthday. It’s coming up so fast," Hamilton said.
But Harte had everything under control. With the help of his colleagues, Harte was able to give Calen “the best birthday ever,” Calen said.
But the buffalove doesn’t stop there.
“Wegmans donated food, and balloons and a big cake,” mom adds. They also donated gifts to the family.
“Buffalo strong, right? Its the city of good neighbors," service area manager Joe Kourt said. "We look out for each other and I think everyone can kind of take that mentality.”
July 17 was Hamilton and Calen’s last day at Millennium hotel. They are headed back home.
