On Tuesday morning, Sept. 16, my 83-year-old father was driving to church for Mass, as he does every day, when he ran into a detour not far from his house in the South Hills. None of us are sure how it happened, but somehow my father ended up all the way in Hampton. He pulled into a Sheetz for directions back home.

He asked a gentleman who was sitting in his car reading the paper if he could bother him for directions. This man could tell something wasn't right and called the Hampton Police. When the police got to the Sheetz, they ran my father's license plate and license but did not find anything out of the ordinary. That is when this man took it upon himself to lead my father all the way back to the South Hills to make sure he got home safely.

So, Mark Werner, on behalf of my father, myself and my family, we thank you for your kindness and unselfishness in giving up your time to get our dad home.

It is so refreshing to know that there are still really good people out there, and we are so lucky that our dad found one of them.

-- KATHLEEN BRONDER, Baldwin Borough

My friend Joan and I were biking on the Montour Trail one day last month, as what was left of Hurricane Ike blew its fierce wind all about. We had stopped for a water break when we discovered that Joan's bike had a flat tire. Our car was parked in Imperial, 11 miles away, and at that point we were in a very isolated area near Cecil. The clouds were growing darker even though it never did rain.

We took stock of our emergency kits only to find no spare tire or inner tube! We talked about what to do but our options were not appealing. Walking back the 11 miles would mean that we would be on the trail past dark. The other option was that I would ride my bike back and fetch the car. The only problem there being that I did not know the area and had no idea which roads would lead me back to her.

Just then Ivan Ober, riding his recumbent bike, stopped for water, too. We approached him and explained our dilemma, hoping that maybe he had a spare inner tube we could buy from him. He did not have anything we could use. Mr. Ober, a teacher in the Mt. Lebanon schools, then came up with a plan. He and his wife, Trisch, live in the area. He would finish his ride to his house, fetch his car with a bike rack and come back for us.

He and his wife showed up very quickly; they loaded the bikes on the rack and off we went back to Imperial and our car.

This wonderful, gracious couple interrupted their quiet Sunday evening at home to help two mechanically challenged women! They easily spent two hours of their time making sure that we were safely back to our vehicle.

We will always be thankful for their generosity and kindness.

-- CLARA L. HANNY and JOAN S. STRUEBER, Cranberry

July 19 was a day that we'll never forget. After a wonderful dinner with friends to celebrate my birthday, we were driving home along Fox Chapel Road. In a nanosecond, our lives flashed before our eyes: Two headlights appeared out of nowhere and were heading right for us. Behind those headlights and the wheel of a very large SUV was a young man of 18. He had also been celebrating his birthday.

He hit us head-on, totaling our car. My husband, Harold, had to be cut out. My legs were stuck under the dashboard and my chest felt like it was crushed. My daughter Morgan, in shock, was lying in the back seat, moaning in pain.

Three different ambulances came to whisk us off to three different hospitals. Imagine the anxiety that each of us would feel -- none of us knowing where the others were going. Imagine the fear of a mother who cannot reach her child to comfort her.

Fortunately, we received help from so many people. Right after the accident, out of the blackness appeared an angel, Dr. Barry Hirsch. This wonderful man carried my daughter from the back seat to safety on the ground. Our friends the Treblows just happened to be driving behind us; they stayed with my daughter and called our son. Dr. Hirsch returned to me and held my upper body. As I'm bleeding all over him, he constantly assures me that we are all OK. I cannot thank him enough.

The friends we had been visiting, the Exlers, stayed with my daughter on the ride to the hospital. I thank them for not leaving her side for three days.

Of course, numerous friends and family -- they know who they are -- rushed to our sides, and ran back and forth between hospitals. I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done. At Allegheny General Hospital, I thank Joahnne Wine in housekeeping and Sonianne (Bunny) Foster in food service; they were so caring. Thank you George in physical therapy for your humor.

My husband had a broken collarbone and is recovering. My daughter suffered cuts and bruises, but was not seriously hurt. My injuries were more extensive, but I am now out of the wheelchair. I am grateful to be alive. With all my heart, I thank everyone who helped me and my family.

-- CHERYL BLUMENFELD, Squirrel Hill