A ray of sunshine in these turbulent times

Sabrina Thompkins is home again.

Odds are, and it’s a safe bet, you don’t know Sabrina Thompkins.

But there’s a chance you may have seen her without batting a second glance.

Thompkins, a 45-year-old Black woman from Georgia was seen earlier this month by Buffalo Grove Police officer Danielle Baron at the corner of Rose Court and Arlington Heights Road.

Noting that Tompkins was sitting under a tree with a shopping cart, Baron asked if she needed any assistance.

And that’s when the story began to unfold.

The reason Thompkins had a shopping cart is that she is homeless and, note police reports, has been “on and off for 20 years.” And she’s a long way from home.

Thompkins told police, reports say, is from Georgia. It’s not indicated how she ended up in Buffalo Grove, but she told Baron that she has a sister in Ft. Riley, Georgia, and a step mother who she said lives “in Georgia.”

Thompkins did not have contact information for her sister, but did for her step mother.

Baron was able to contact Betty Lawrence, Thompkins’ step mother, who told Baron that “…she hasn't spoken to Thompkins since she lived with her as a child and she couldn't offer any assistance.”

It seems as though no one has been of assistance to Thompkins.

Not until July 11.

Baron could have ushered Thompkins on her way. But she didn’t. Instead, reports say, Baron offered to get Thompkins a solid meal, which she did. Baron picked up food and a beverage at the Continental and brought back to Thompkins.

The story could have ended there. But it didn’t.

Officer Kurt Lowenberg arrived on the scene and along with Baron got to know Thompkins a bit more. She told them that she often slept on benches at the Target or Walmart in Wheeling, but didn’t stay there during the day.

Lowenberg and Baron asked Thompkins if there was anything she wanted.  The request? A change of clothes and a place to take a shower.  She hadn’t had either in 30 days.

Baron reached out to Buffalo Grove resident John Kleeman, described in reports as a friend. Kleeman and his wife provided Thompkins clothing, personal hygiene products and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Baron and Lowenberg also did some shopping for Thompkins, getting her some additional personal hygiene products, a poncho and bottled water.

As they got to know more about Thompkins, more aid – and generosity – came her way. It turned out that she had Social Security information and told Baron and Lowenberg that she needed assistance to get to the Social Security Administration office in Mount Prospect to complete the process so she would be able to get some benefits.

With the help of Sgt. Vince Positano and Police Department Social Worker Brittany Wilson, arrangements were made to get Thompkins to the Social Security office two days later.

But where would Thompkins stay in the meantime?

Through Wilson’s efforts, Thompkins was able to stay at the Sheraton Four Points on Lake-Cook Road. Baron and Lowenberg made sure she got there safely. Wilson met with Thompkins on Monday, July 13 to discuss getting her to a shelter in Chicago, since area shelters are closed due to COVID-19.

And while it a shelter seemed like a good idea, it appeared that Thompkins wanted to head back to Georgia.

But how would she get there? Arrangements were made for Thompkins to head back to Georgia on a Greyhound bus from Chicago.

And how did she get to the station? She was taken there by Buffalo Grove police.

Police reports don’t indicate where Thompkins ended up in Georgia, nor they indicate if they’ve heard from Thompkins.

Odds are, however, that she won’t forget the generosity and compassion of Baron, Lowenberg, Wilson, Positano and the Kleemans.

How could she?

In these turbulent times this is more than just a little ray of sunshine.