As clinical social work supervisor at UPMC Presbyterian, I see that sometimes it's the "little things" that truly make a difference in our patients' lives. Recently, we've seen more patients struggling to make ends meet, losing their jobs and their insurance. These hurdles make everyday activities that we may take for granted even more difficult.

Recently, a social worker at UPMC Presbyterian was part of an episode in which people joined together to help a patient and her family get through a very difficult time

The mother of a patient drove here from another state to be with her daughter while she was recovering. The nursing staff alerted our team that the patient was demanding to be released against medical advice. An early release could have exacerbated an already tenuous health situation.

The patient confessed that her desire to leave was because she was concerned that her mother was sleeping in her car in the parking lot and that they needed to get back home so she can go back to work. Our staff was able to speak with the mother and through conversation, learned she had literally spent her last dollars on the trip to Pittsburgh to tend to her daughter's health needs.

We quickly realized that assuring this patient's full recovery meant we had to secure housing for the mother. Knowing that the Ladies Hospital Aid Society is always willing to lend a hand to those in need, we contacted Dee Dee Troutman and the volunteers at the LHAS. With the help of this group, our social worker was able to assist the patient's mother in obtaining housing at Family House. With the assistance and generosity of LHAS, the mother of this patient was able to have a secure place to sleep, eat and get the added support she needed to be able to help her daughter. As a result, the patient felt comfortable recuperating at the hospital until she was healthy and medically cleared for discharge.

These "random acts" -- or, more accurately, deliberate acts of kindness -- are what the volunteers at LHAS do as part of their mission. The help they provided this family and the many others shows patients that their needs are important and that we want to help to relieve their burden so that they can focus on a healthy recovery.

-- MARY VEIHDEFFER, clinical social work supervisor, UPMC Presbyterian, Oakland

Most of the stories in this column are about good deeds done locally. Here's one to remind us that acts of kindness are not exclusive to the Pittsburgh area:

We were hopelessly lost in Worcester, Mass., on Aug. 8, on our way to nearby Uxbridge to visit friends. It was a busy traffic circle that did us in, and after failing to retrace our tracks we pulled into a large lot at a post office.

It was deserted that Saturday afternoon, when Andy Mitchell, a letter carrier, showed up and offered help. He sensed our elderly confusion with his directions and advice that more traffic circles were up ahead, so he offered to lead us until the road was easier to follow. Andy left to get his car, and as we waited, an authoritative-looking fellow rushed up to us and told us that we were parked illegally on secured federal property. We tried to delay leaving with explanations, when Mr. Mitchell showed up in his car and saved the day.

Andy led us for about a mile, and when ready to leave us he parked off the road, gave us some useful advice and drove a U-turn back to his normal destination.

-- SELMA and BOB FURST, Upper St. Clair

On July 10, my birthday, my son, husband and I were returning to our car in Millvale after a breakfast of pancakes at Pamela's.

Getting close to our car, my husband was the first to discover that we had been sideswiped, leaving a badly damaged fender.

Almost immediately upon our arrival at the car, a young man jumped from his truck with a piece of paper. He had seen the hit and run and had taken down the license and color of the car. Apparently he had been waiting our return.

We reported to the police and they in turn located the driver of the hit and run. Because this young man, Glenn, performed this act of kindness, the woman's insurance paid the entire repair and in a very short time. Our insurance did not have to pay.

Thanks to Glenn for his kind act.

-- JEAN and FRED HAGUE, O'Hara

One day last week, I "lost" my car keys at the local supermarket (Waterworks Giant Eagle). Actually, I unintentionally put them down on the customer service desk, went to pick something up somewhere else in the store, and came back to discover they were gone.

The manager (ironically nicknamed "Lucky) went to unbelievable lengths to assist me. He searched the store with me, emptied trash cans, spoke to the cashiers, everything one could possibly do. When my keys still did not turn up, he offered to drive me home to pick up my extra set of keys and bring me back to the parking lot where my car was parked. He also stationed an attendant to watch my car while we were gone in case the person who took the keys attempted to steal it. Amazing!

It is a most disconcerting and frightening moment to lose one's keys. However, when people like this store manager offer such palpable assistance and concern, at some level, I left the experience feeling grateful ... and lucky!

Thank you, Giant Eagle, for hiring a man with such a warm and giving heart.

-- JULIE MARX, O'Hara