A boy who police found collecting cans in order to buy his mom a Christmas present has been rewarded for his efforts, with cops so touched by his story they pitched in to pay for his family's presents.

Sophia Reed called police in a panic last week when she realized her 13-year-old son Diauris had disappeared.

Little did she know that Diauris and his sister Deneisha had hatched a plan for him to go and collect cans in order to buy their mom a present for Christmas.

"I was afraid he was going to get in trouble," Deneisha said about Diauris. "I just didn't want to say anything because it would blow the whole thing."

Diauris came home after he saw officers and told them what he was doing.

"I just wanted to do something for my mama," he said.

Reed has recently moved her family to an Oklahoma City apartment using the last of her funds, including Christmas money.

"What little Christmas money we had you know to pay my security deposit for here," Reed said.

The boy's story touched Officer Roland Russell's heart, and soon he and other officers had raised $800 and bought the family Christmas and housewarming gifts.

The generosity of those officers changed Diauris' perspective on police, he said.

"Most of the time when I see the police it's like, bad stuff," Diauris said. "Up here I guess it's changed, good."

"They caught us at the right time and we are so grateful," Reed said.