CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- You don't have to understand how the social media app TikTok works to understand why having 1.3 million followers is pretty impressive.

But Kevin Eudy isn't just your average social media influencer. He's also a father and officer with the Wingate Police Department.

What You Need To Know

  • Officer Kevin Eudy is a nearly 10-year veteran of the Wingate, N.C. police department

  • Eudy and Officer Josh Scales of Forsyth County created the "You Say Car" 5-day challenge

  • Four days in, the effort had raised enough to buy more than one family a car

This summer, the 10-year veteran saw a major intersection of two impactful issues: Families suffering from the economic effects of the pandemic and serious conversations about relations between police and the community. Officer Eudy is aiming to be a solution for both with his “You Say Car” 5-day challenge.

“Welcome back to 'You Say Car,'" Eudy said while filming a post. “I am your host, Kevin!”

It's day 4 of his challenge that ends Tuesday. “Y'all are so special,” Eudy told his followers. “Him and I may be behind the scenes, but it's y'all that's doing all the work.”

The idea, which has gotten a lot of support from across the nation, was Eudy's idea along with his buddy Josh Scales, a Forsyth County officer. “No matter what's going, no matter what's being said about law enforcement, we're going to be there, we're going to understand, we're going to listen to them,” Scales says.

With millions out of work due to the pandemic, Eudy is hoping he can use his social media influence to make a difference. “How can I take the following that I have on TikTok and Instagram and actually promote real change, not just talk about it?” Eudy says.

“If less than 1 percent of those followers will send a dollar to my Venmo or Cash app,” Eudy said during the TikTok where he first pitched the challenge.

He started with the goal of providing at least one family with a car and a year's worth of insurance, paid for. “Four days in now, almost, well technically with Cash app and PayPal, we are sitting at $36,000,” Eudy says.

He also says the community responded in a way that he and Scales will be able to more than just one family in need. “And, if we are not able to bless one, two, three families with a new vehicle or maybe buy food for a year, pay rent for a year, who knows,” he said during another TikTok.

It's their way of saying “Yes, I'm a cop, but I love you.”

“So, the fact that we've been able to raise that much is absolutely insane and it's truly a wonderful feeling to know that we are going to be able a family, to be able to change somebody's life,” Scales adds.

Once the challenge is over, Officers Eudy and Scales will work with several other officers to select the families. If you would like to help, you can do so through TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter.