In a moment that underscores the brutal reality of winter for those without shelter, a Texas convenience store manager rushed to save a homeless woman who had spent the night in sub-freezing temperatures, finding her body “stiff as a rock” from exposure.
Faris Hussain, manager of Evan’s Food Mart in south Fort Worth, didn’t hesitate when a customer alerted him about Bobbi, a homeless woman curled up on the ground across from his store during a winter storm that plunged temperatures to as low as 16 degrees on January 24, 2026.
“When I heard her name, it was one of my good customers, so I instantly was like hey man, no no no, there’s no way, we gotta go help her right now,” Hussain told reporters.
Surveillance footage captured the rescue as Hussain carried the woman — dressed only in a thin jacket and sweatpants — into the warmth of his store. “She felt like a rock, as stiff as a rock. I mean, it was, when I picked her up, her entire body was just, it was like, no matter which way you picked her up, her body was going to stay the same form,” he explained in a subsequent interview.
The life-threatening situation struck Hussain deeply. “It kind of broke my heart because when I brought her inside, my hands were cold, so I was like, if I’m cold off of 5-10 minutes, I can just imagine a lady like that being out there all night,” he recounted.
Community Response
Paramedics from the Fort Worth Fire Department arrived at the convenience store and transported Bobbi to a local hospital. While her current condition remains unknown, Hussain mentioned that she had time to warm up inside the store and express her gratitude before being taken for medical care.
What makes the story more poignant? Bobbi wasn’t a stranger. She was a regular customer who had fallen on hard times, someone familiar to the tight-knit community that revolves around the neighborhood store.
The winter storm that hit North Texas that weekend forced many businesses to close, but Evan’s Food Mart remained open despite the frigid conditions, a decision that may have saved Bobbi’s life, local media reported.
Hussain has downplayed being labeled a hero for his actions. Instead, he’s focusing on what comes next for Bobbi. He’s planning a fundraiser to help her get back on her feet, with ambitious goals that include potentially renting her a room for a year.
“So when I picked her up, she was stiff as a rock,” Hussain reiterated, the memory clearly still vivid in his mind days after the rescue.
Bobbi’s son has since reached out to Hussain to express gratitude for saving his mother’s life, adding another layer to a story that highlights both the dangers faced by those experiencing homelessness during extreme weather and the difference one person’s quick action can make.
In a winter that has brought challenging conditions across Texas, this south Fort Worth convenience store has become more than just a place to buy groceries — it’s become a lifeline, with a manager who believes looking out for neighbors isn’t heroism, just humanity.
