Officers Help Elderly Man Delivering Food To Homeless Shelter After Truck Breaks Down

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- An inspiring story out of Chester County.

Patrol officers in Tredyffrin Township came across a disabled truck on Route 202 Wednesday night.

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That's when the officers say they had the pleasure of meeting 84-year-old Arnold Reinikka.

Reinikka was on his nightly trip to the City Gate Homeless Shelter in Coatesville when his truck broke down.

"The darn engine died about three miles away from home," he said.

In 90-degree heat, without a cellphone on hand, he pulled his truck onto the shoulder of Route 202 southbound.

"I'm sitting there thinking, 'What do I do now?'"

He was on his way to deliver food donations he picks up from local businesses.

Fortunately, the officers spotted Reinikka just in time to help.

"Eventually, a [Tredyffrin Township] policeman located me. She was an extremely polite lady, Sgt. Major. She helped me a lot and called AAA," said  Reinikka.

The officers say Reinikka directed traffic, while an officer along with a tow truck driver and Reinikka's son-in law helped load the food boxes into the son-in-law's car.

While some are praising Reinikka as an unsung hero, he is lifting the praise upwards.

"To me, it's just serving the Lord," he said.

But to the rest of the community, the Reinikkas are filling more than stomachs, they are filling hearts.

He adds that Donna, his wife of more than 60 years, has been his constant and is equally as giving.

For more than thirty years, she's been volunteering at a local hospital but recently broke her kneecap after falling down while on a shift.

The two have five children, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

"I've been so blessed to have my wife. How great she's been," he said.

And instead of focusing on him, he wants the community to focus on each other.

"Pay attention to the needs around your place and help as much as you can."