A Christmas Rescue Made Ten Strangers’ Day

Can you imagine being from another country and running into a blizzard?  That’s what happened to ten South Koreans on their way to Niagara Falls.  They got stuck in Buffalo.  Literally.   Around 2 PM Saturday they knocked on the door of a house to borrow a shovel to get their van dislodged. “It was Christmas Eve when Alex Campagna heard their frantic knocking on his door. Outside, he recounted on Facebook, was “the worst blizzard I’ve experienced” and knowing the folly of trying to carry on, he invited them all inside, putting them up on couches, air mattresses, and sleeping bags” as reported by the Good News Network, South China News Agency and ABC.

“As a Buffalonian, this is on another level, the Darth Vader of storms,” he told the New York Times.  Eager to repay his kindness, the guests cooked several Korean meals. It turns out Campagna and his wife really like Korean food and had some of the more extravagant ingredients on hand. The Times reports they stayed Friday and Saturday. They swapped stories, and even enjoyed some American football matches on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas day drivers came to pick up the tour group and took them to New York for some impromptu flights. “We have enjoyed this so much,” said Choi Yoseob, a member of the group who described the experience as unforgettable and a “unique blessing.” 

A stranger making ten someone’s day.  What a heartwarming story, made possible because Alex and his wife were open to sharing their kindness and gratitude with others, making their day.  If this happened to you, what would you do?  How can you extend your caring and kindness to others in need at these holiday times and throughout the year?