A Texas police officer is being hailed for going above and beyond the call of duty after circumstances brought him to a family "going through difficult financial times".

Earlier this week, Officer James Riley was working out in the streets of Austin when he was flagged down by a concerned citizen who saw a little boy walking across an empty parking lot by himself.

When Riley caught up with the boy, the youngster said he was walking to a nearby corner store so he could get some snacks for a younger sibling.

Concerned for the child's safety, Officer Riley gave him a ride home – but upon meeting the boy's family, Riley was heartbroken to learn of their financial difficulties.

The police officer then took it upon himself to go to a nearby HEB grocery store and get snacks for the children and easy-to-cook meals for the parents.

After Riley brought the groceries to the family's home, he made sure to lecture the kids about safety and the importance of only leaving the house with an adult.

Once the Austin Police Department learned of their officer's good deed, they posted a photo of his grocery cart to social media.

"Please join us in commending Officer Riley for helping out a family in need," the department wrote. "He showed true heart with this act of kindness and is just one example of how our officers work to make Austin a safe community."

Since the department published the photo earlier this week, it has been shared hundreds of times. One commenter even offered their own validation to the story by saying: "His parental instincts kicked in to motion. I have the honor of calling him a good friend for close to 20 years. He's a great dad and good officer."

Be Sure And Share The Sweet Story Of Kindness With Your Friends On Social Media…