8-year-old girl buys meal for police officer

NEW JERSEY (FOX 5 NEWS) - Mikayla Raji, 8, is a little girl with a giant heart. Mikayla and her mother Mimi were eating at a pizzeria in Helmetta, New Jersey, in April. The young girl saw Officer Joseph Quinn of the Jamesburg Police Department walk inside – and the rest is history.

"When I went to pick up my meal and purchase it the owner told me that it was paid for," Officer Joseph Quinn said. "I asked him who paid for it and he said it was paid for by a fallen officer's family member."

Mikayla insisted her mom buy Joseph dinner. She was shy and humble when we spoke to her. Why did she decide to do it?

"Because it's nice," she said. "Because he works hard."

Mikayla's late father, Thomas, was with the Perth Amboy Police Department when he was killed on the job by a drunk driver in 2008. It was about 7 months before Mikayla was born.

"She had said that if her dad was alive that she would want somebody to also buy him a lunch or dinner," Mimi said.

Officer Quinn had quickly figured out who the generous culprit was. He also learned of her dad's tragic story.

Soon after, the entire Jamesburg Police Department decided to come together to give back to Mikayla in more ways than one. They arranged for her to throw out the first pitch at the Yankee game this past Tuesday. They also started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Mikayla's future college education.

"Very generous," Mimi said. "An 8-year-old doesn't normally think like that. I was very touched by it, proud."

The Perth Amboy Police Department also just announced that in September it will participate in a charity softball game. It will be in memory of Mikayla's father, Thomas, whose legacy will no doubt continue to live on.