Mom Calls Target Employees 'Life Savers' for Giving Her Family Shelter During Blizzard

Target Boston Blizzard Jessica Sypniewski Stranded on Christmas Eve Stranded at Target Target Employees Target Employees Called Life Savers Life Savers Beverly David Lewis

By Jo Anne Hubert , Parent Herald Jan 03, 02:52 am

Photo: (Photo : Getty Images/Robyn Beck)

A Buffalo mom, with her two children and boyfriend, was among over 20 individuals kept safe and warm by Target during the winter storm.

Jessica Sypniewski, the mother of two kids ages seven and 11, took to Facebook on Christmas Eve to express gratitude and appreciation to Target employees for giving her, her family, and 20 more people refuge during the "once in a lifetime" winter storm.

She posted a series of photos on how Target provided for them to make them warm and comfortable, like hot chocolates from Starbucks, food, mattresses, blankets, and clothing.

Target employees also grabbed some books to read to children who were made to don dinosaur-hooded blankets. She also posted a snap of the stranded group of people with their "life savers" - the Target employees.

"We have been stranded at Target on Walden since 12 p.m. yesterday. I have never felt so scared in my life but we are safe and warm!! I cannot say enough to the Target employees who opened their doors to us and have provided everything we have needed, you guys are literally life savers!!" she expressed in her caption.

Stranded for two nights in Target

The storm overwhelmed the region and resulted in at least 39 deaths and hundreds of people stranded. It packed 70-mile-per-hour winds and dumped an estimated four feet of snow.

Sypniewski narrated to Today how they got stranded in the Target plaza on their way back home after picking up her boyfriend's sister and boyfriend. The party of six stayed in the car for a bit before deciding to go inside a grocery store adjacent to Target on Walden Avenue. However, they needed to return to the car since the grocery store won't let them stay there.

They were back in the car for 30 or 40 minutes when the cold was creeping in, making them very uncomfortable. Upon realizing the danger of staying the night inside their vehicle during the blizzard, especially with her children with her, they "banged" on the doors of Target, which was covered with snow and ice.

Target employees welcomed them. And, as if accepting them in the building with heaters, blankets, and hot chocolates were not enough, the employees even turned on the TVs so the stranded "guests," who stayed two nights in the store, could watch the Buffalo Bills game.

Amazing care from the employees

Other individuals who also got stranded at Target were interviewed, and they could not help but praise the store's employees as Sypniewski did.

According to People, Beverly David Lewis and her husband Danny told WGRZ that Target's "salaried employees" were the people left in the building, and these people took "amazing care" of everyone.

Beverly further expressed how she already has so many experiences in life, yet her Target experience in the blizzard is part of her top 10.