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Random Act of Kindness: Customer at Christmas tree lot showed her warmth to worker
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Every Thursday I open up the newspaper and read the "Random Acts of Kindness" column. It is so amazing to read about complete strangers doing unselfish acts for other people. I never expected that someone would be so kind to me.
I was selling Christmas trees outdoors at the Home Depot store in Bethel Park. It was a cold day, with a high in the 20s, when a woman came in and bought two potted trees. I helped her load them into her car, and she left.
A short time later this woman pulled up in her car in front of the outdoor garden center, and she rolled down her window and handed me two cups of hot chocolate and two donuts. She said, "No one should be out in the cold without a little warmth." She wished me a blessed holiday and drove away.
I thanked her and shared the treat with a co-worker. I just hope she reads this and knows it was a truly appreciated gesture.
GUS MELIS
Dormont
A Christmas angel stepped in to pay for the costs of postage
About a week before Christmas I was down at the Hazelwood post office to drop off a couple of Christmas packages.
After waiting in line for almost a half-hour, when I got to the window I realized I had forgotten my money. I asked the girl behind the window if she could put the packages to the side and told her I would be back in 20 to 30 minutes to pay for them. She said OK.
Just then this woman I did not know stepped up beside me and said, "No, you don't have to do that," and took out of her purse a $20 bill and passed it to the girl behind the window. The postage I owed was $12.80.
I tried to protest, saying her offer was too much, but she insisted, saying her grandchildren always treat her nice and she just tries to pass it on. I said, "I don't know how to thank you," and she said, "That's all right, you already did."
If she reads this, I hope she had a blessed holiday. I call her my Christmas angel!
CARL DOMINIK
Greenfield
Others at airport let her cut in so she wouldn't miss a flight
Ann Curry of NBC News suggested that everyone commit 20 random acts of kindness on behalf of the angels lost in the Connecticut school shooting.
I would like to thank two couples at Pittsburgh International Airport who very early on a Thursday morning allowed me to cut in line in front of them, in order to make my flight to California to visit my grandchildren for Christmas, which is the highlight of my year.
At the risk of being turned down and considered obnoxious, I mustered up the courage not only once at curbside check-in but again at security to ask two different couples for this huge favor. They (grandparents themselves -- a wise move on my part) allowed me to step in front of them!
After thanking them an embarrassing amount of times and wishing them their best Christmas ever, I ran (and this grandmother does not usually run) to my now-empty gate area, was hurried along by the ticket agent and made it onto the plane as the doors were closing.
During my four-hour flight, I secretly thanked them again and considered how I was going to perform my acts of kindness. I have 20 to go; those two couples, just 19.
PATTIE SMITH
Ross
A stranger was willing to sacrifice his kidney
This was a true Christmas miracle: A North Hills resident -- due to his faith, hope, generosity and the value he places on life -- opted to donate his kidney to a total stranger.
Much appreciation is given to the friend who shared my story about my need for a kidney donor with the pastor at her church; with the pastor who put my story in his bulletin; to my donor, who read my story; and to his family and the employer who supported him.
My kidney donor saved my life, for which I will be eternally grateful. A true Christmas miracle! Donate life to the thousands of lives that need to be saved.
JAN KELLY
Franklin Park
First Published January 17, 2013 12:28 am
