Random Acts of Kindness: Stranger shows he's strong in heart as well as physique

Once a year, Moon Township has an electronics drop-off for recycling items that the garbage collectors will not take. Usually, they have high school kids to unload for you. Not this time.

I had an old, big analog tube TV I wanted to get rid of -- a real beast, about 150 pounds.

I'm 65 now, so I needed help to get the thing into my SUV. When I saw no kids to help after I got there, I figured I was toast.

While I'm deciding what to do, a minivan pulls up and out steps a guy that looks like he ought to play for the Steelers -- huge shoulders, massive chest, big arms, tree trunk legs. Perfect. So I ask him if he'd help me. Sure.

I go to grab my end of the TV, but he says, "No, I think I got this." He reached in, grabs the thing, walks it about 15 yards, and deposits it gently on the ground.

I thanked him and told him I'd send it to the Random Acts of Kindness.

So, to that guy first, thanks so much. And second, I'd give a month's Social Security to be built like that for about a week.

JAMES F. CATALDI

Moon

I was shopping recently at the Target store in Harmarville as part of a day of errands before a doctor's appointment.

When I got to the doctor's office the receptionist asked for my insurance cards, but when I reached into my purse, I realized I didn't have my wallet. Of course, I began to panic, thinking about everything that was in it, including credit cards, several restaurant gift cards and a significant amount of cash I had withdrawn from the banking machine that morning.

Retracing my steps, I called Target, hoping that someone had found and turned in a wallet there. I was told that, in fact, a wallet had been found and that I could come in to identify it.

When I arrived at the store I learned that the gentleman who gathers the shopping carts in the parking lot had found my wallet on the ground and turned it in. Everything in my wallet was intact, and I was extremely relieved and grateful.

When I got home and calmed down I began to realize just how rare this situation was. I called the store and spoke with the manager, hoping that I could personally thank the employee in some way and also nominate him for "employee of the month" or some other suitable recognition. The manager assured me that she would "certainly do that."

I have shared this story with several friends, and everyone reacts the same way. They are amazed at this gentleman's integrity and agree with me that he has strengthened our faith in humanity. So, I've decided to use this avenue to nominate the "Cart Guy" at Target for humanitarian of the year. Thank you so much for your random act of kindness.

JOANNE CECCHI

New Kensington

On a beautiful summer day, July 23, I put my bike on my bike rack and headed to my friend's for a good ride from the Waterfront shopping complex and beyond.

When I arrived at his house, he said, "Did you put your bike on your rack?"

What? It wasn't there? Oh, no! He jumped into my car with me, and we set out to retrace my route to find it. And we did -- undamaged, on a curvy, hilly part of Sample Road in Hampton.

A very kind and brave person had come across it, rescued it and leaned it up against the hillside. I am so grateful! Whoever it was, thank you so much. A very random act of kindness!

CAROL SCHULER

McCandless