This article originally appeared in our newsletter.
We recently asked our readers to share their favorite Pittsburgh moments of kindness from a stranger, drawing inspiration from this story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
They did not disappoint. Here are some of our favorites:
đ Just when we thought we couldnât love libraries more âŚÂ
âOnce, my work ID was loose in my bag and I thought I lost it. Fast forward two months to me getting a call from the library in Etna. It had gotten stuck in a library book (then I guess I returned it) and this librarian went back through the history of borrowers, matched my name, and called my cellphone to ask if I needed it back.â â Maddie G.Â
đ Pittsburgh Left to the extreme âŚÂ
âI came to visit a friend and got miserably lost. To a fault, every single person I approached helped me get to Shadyside. At one point, I was sitting at a red light not knowing where to go, so I rolled down my window and asked the guy next to me. He said: âYou need to go left here. When the light turns green, weâll wait, you go.â He signaled the driver next to him, and they both waited while I made my left from the right-hand lane. I have no clue what the oncoming traffic was doing or if there even was any oncoming traffic. Little did I know that was my first experience with the Pittsburgh Left. Love this city <3âłÂ â Patricia C.Â
đĽÂ At a celebratory Sausalido dinner with friends âŚ
âAs we waited for our apps, I noticed a younger guy sitting alone at the table next to ours. He had been there alone since before we arrived. I love to talk to strangers, so I struck up a conversation with him. Turned out that he was in town for work and decided to find a place for dinner. Our table had four chairs, so I invited him to sit with us. We ended up having a great time talking, laughing, sharing, and eating. ⌠When the bill came, the folder was empty. The waitress explained that an older couple witnessed our interaction with the guy and thought it was so nice of us they paid our bill. We were all dumbfounded. To this day, itâs one of the most random acts of kindness Iâve ever been a part of.â  â Nicole J.Â
đ A public transit joy ride âŚÂ
âI started working in Downtown and decided to take the bus. It was my first time taking the bus and not driving into the city and I was so nervous. When you take the bus that early in the morning, you likely see the same people going to work every day. There were many who quickly realized I was new and going to be a regular and they were so kind to me â just telling me good morning, asking me where I worked. It made me feel welcome in a new experience.â â Gena K.Â
𧚠When an older neighbor had a falling out with family …
“Then the guy was on his own. Neighbors shoveled his walk in the winter. The lady across the street made sure he had his supper every night. I made sure there was ice melter on his walk on snowy days. People cleaned the snow off of his precious minivan. Somebody put his trash cans back after the trash had been picked up. … While he was living with us, we looked after him.” â Anonymous
đşÂ Good directions âŚ
âWhen I first moved to Pittsburgh in 2000, personal GPS wasnât a thing yet. I was lost and pulled over in front of a dry cleanerâs to look at a map. While I was trying to figure out where I was, the attendant came out of the store and came over to my car to help me. That was the first in a long line of wonderful Pittsburghers that I have encountered over the years.â â Susan C.
đ Many, many thanks âŚ
âReason number 1,412 Pittsburgh is the best: I dropped a thank-you note somewhere on the North Side and assumed it was lost forever. Then the note arrived at my parentsâ house, meaning some kind soul picked it up and put it in the mail for me.â â Rossilynne C.Â
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