Buffalo pastors rescued more than 100 people and housed them in his church during historic blizzard

CNN
—

Al and Vivian Robinson welcomed over 100 new members to their family in the last few days. All thanks to the couple’s kindness in the face of a deadly storm.

The couple, pastors of the Spirit of Truth City Department in Buffalo, New York, have rescued and housed a total of 154 people over the past few days. A historic blizzard hit the city, leaving thousands without power and stranded in their homes and cars. He left Erie County with 39 dead.

“We took action and were able to get up to 154 people to church and not freeze to death,” Al Robinson told CNN Thursday.

Rescue operations began on Friday, according to Robinson, who said a worrying amount of snow had begun to accumulate in the city. I noticed

He said he began calling his neighbors to check on them and invite them to stay at his church.

Vivian Robinson then posted a brief message on Facebook. Her post also included the church’s phone number and address.

From that point on, Al Robinson said people stranded in nearby streets began pouring into the church.

“At first it was 10 people, two big families, then 30, 60, 90, 100, 120 and finally 128 all the way to 154,” he said. “People were sleeping all over our church, but we were the only ones with electricity.”

Vivian Robinson continued to post on Facebook to spread the word. The video acted as a makeshift journal for viewers, and the photo gallery showed both the devastation of the blizzard and the warmth of a community that came together in a time of need.

Al Robinson also stressed that perhaps three of the 154 people who took refuge in his church were members of his congregation.

“Honestly, it was a total stranger. We had Asians, Hispanics, Arabic speakers, Nigerians here,” Robinson said. “We gathered all possible minorities into our church and we all got together and celebrated Christmas together.”

Robinson said people started leaving churches on Monday and Tuesday as the buffalo thawed from the storm.

Robinson said, “It’s just amazing, because where we are, and now that the trauma has weathered the storm and brought us together, I have this big family. It’s just, it’s just beautiful.” “These people are so full of love…it’s incredible.”