'It feels good’: Retired police officer hands out $2,500 cash to families in need

INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — A retired North Carolina police officer handed out $2,500 in cash to strangers.

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Retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Benson Ratlif went car to car handing out the cash Thursday.

"I just gave away $2,500 to people that are in need,” Ratlif told WSOC-TV. "It feels good. When you're blessed, you have to bless other people."

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The cash was a huge surprise for Mariano Martinez, a father of three who drives for Uber and Lyft. He was one of hundreds of people waiting in line at a mobile food pantry where Ratlif handed out money.

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“He touched our heart, to be honest with you,” Martinez said. “He was telling us when people are down and out … we need people like him to bring our spirits back up … and he definitely did that today."

Ratliff told WSOC-TV he normally donates to those in need around the holidays.

“Everyone was really appreciative,” he said. “I’m not rich by any means, but to be able to give back or pass it forward is real important to me.”

There are 15,850 confirmed cases and 615 deaths from the coronavirus in North Carolina, according to The New York Times.