Manteca Police officer Mike Kelly was humbled by the recognition he and his wife Margaret received at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting for stepping up to help three homeless children by taking them into their home for three months.

The couple and their children didn’t hesitate when they recognized the children were in need of love, medical care and clothing.  They received nothing for their efforts until they were presented with framed resolutions by Manteca Police Chief Nick Obligation in the council chambers Tuesday night.

It was a different way of life for the two girls, 8 and 9, and a 14-year-old boy, when they moved into the Kelly home.  Taking it all in stride were Alyssa, 20, Kaitlyn, 18, and Mike Kelly, III, 15, teaming up and doing their best to demonstrate a different way of life with love and kindness, friends related.  The family had been living outside in the elements between mobile homes in a trailer park on Moffat Bouelvard.

The boy chose to move on to his grandmother’s home in Texas and the girls stayed with the family until late in March when they were placed in foster homes.

The officer noticed the children were in need before Christmas at Sleepy Hollow Trailer Park in Manteca where their parents allowed him and his wife to take temporary custody of their daughters and son.

Kelly found and paid for a vacant motel room to house the family for the Christmas holidays. He saw that the children had wrapped presents delivered to them by Santa Claus who arrived with them in a black and white police car.

It was early January when authorities cleared the way for the children to move into the Kelly home.  They were taken to the doctor for examinations and treatment of illnesses along with being fed and clothed.

Kelley’s dad Michael, Sr., of Manteca, joined in the effort as did fellow officers and staff members, buying the youngsters two sets of clothes and shoes for each of them.  The senior Kelly was present in the council chambers Tuesday night watching from the audience as his son and daughter-in-law were presented with their resolutions.