GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A Greensboro father is facing charges after his 3-year-old child was found wandering alone outside in the rain and chilly temperatures Thursday morning.

• A 3 year old was found wandering alone
• Child was unable to provide parental or residential information
• Child's father is charged with child neglect

Police say employees at a Dollar General down the street from Clearmont Homes found the little boy, changed him and called the police.

The child's mother showed up around noon looking for him and told police that she was at work and that the child's father, Robert Townsend, was supposed to be watching him.

"It could have been a lot worse if had not been for good citizens trying to locate the child. He could have wandered, he could have froze to death because it was below 35 degrees at the time the child was wandering around outside,” Sgt. Alexander Rickets with the Greensboro Police Department said.

We're told the child is safe and Townsend has been arrested and charged with child neglect.