There’s snow place like Hy-Vee …

The Great Blizzard of ’11 did a number on Hy-Vee land. From Kansas and Missouri up through Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, communities were socked with a foot or more of snow, sub-zero temperatures and wind gusts that literally blew vehicles off the roads. The Kansas City Star took this photo at Liberty Hy-Vee (northern suburb of KC) as customers hurried to stock up before they hunkered down.

From Iowa City, a customer wrote to express his thanks for some helpful smiles at work beyond the aisles:

I just wanted to tell the superiors in your corporation about the four young gentlemen I met Last night.

 It was blizzard conditions in Iowa City … Ice formed inside and outside my windshield, and I ended up in the lane that had not been plowed. I put on my hazard lights and exited my car to assess the situation. After a moment, a late model SUV pulled up behind me and put on their hazard lights. After another moment four young men got out of the SUV, and two with shovels.

I said, “Are you guys the good samaritans?”

 I heard back, “No, we’re Hy-Vee employees.”

 Another one shouted, “We just helped a cop car get unstuck!”

I am most grateful for the attitude of the four guys. Not just the deeds of helping me get unstuck, but the can-do attitude of your employees is what I am writing to thank your stores for.

 Sincerely, Joe (the guy with the tan Mazda) 

Thanks to Joe for writing, and thanks to the four anonymous ambassadors from the First Avenue Hy-Vee in Iowa City for carrying out the company mission of making lives easier, healthier and happier … one snowbound vehicle at a time.