After what this guy did, a reader writes, ‘I had to stop him.’
Thanks, trash man, for ‘going the extra mile’
There are some people who have jobs where they not only work hard, but also go out of their way to do great jobs for people and never get a thank-you.
Such workers are the men andwomen who weekly pick up our trash. Some people call them sanitary engineers, some garbage men, and some trash men. I had a “Random Act of Kindness” experience with a gentleman, Cody Sanders, who works for Waste Management that I want to share.
I live across the street from a beautiful 85-year-old widow, Joan, who still lives in her big house and does not ask for help for anything. However, the neighbors try to help her asmuch as she will let us.
I have been putting her trash cans out on trash night and then the next day putting the empty cans back. However, in recent weeks, I would put the trash cans out at night, and the next day the empty trash cans were back in place. I just assumed Joan put them back.
On June 22, I found out who was putting them back. I was sitting on my front porch when Cody Sanders came up the street driving a big Waste Management sanitation truck. As he got to Joan’s, he emptied her trash can and then put it back where she keeps it. I was so touched by this act of kindness that when he came down my side of the street, I had to stop him and thank him for what he was doing.
I found out from talking with this gentleman that he is a veteran. It is evident that from his parents and from his Army experiences, Cody has a great work ethic.
We talked about his job and how hard it is. He tries not only to take care of the people on his route but also to be a good asset to Waste Management.
I thanked him for the great job that he is doing and going that extra mile for a neighbor. He told me that I was the first person in a long time who has thanked him for the job that he is doing.
There are a lot of people who go that extra mile for us. Please thank them for the great job they are doing. This may be the first one that they have received.
JOHN BACHA
Mt. Lebanon
Unseen benefactors pay for breakfast
On the morning June 26, my 84-year-old husband ate breakfast at the original Eat’n Park on McKnight Road in Ross.
We were told our breakfast was paid in full by those at a table we hadn’t even seen. John has had four back surgeries with each making the pain worse. He rarely has something to smile about, but this brought a big smile to his face.
Thank you, whoever you are. We will pay it forward and do something kind for a veteran.
JOHN and JANE HARVATH
West View
Brother’s kind words, acts stand test of time
Years ago at our niece’s wedding in Chicago, we were staying in a semi-posh hotel.
A woman came to the door but couldn’t get her crutches and arthritic body in the right position to get the door open. My dear brother rushed to the door and opened it for her, for which shethanked him profusely.
He said, “I only open doors for beautiful women,” which lit up her face and has warmed my heart for many years.
He is the ultimate gentleman and opens doors for women, children and guys unable to do so without help, but this added sentence has caused a cascade of wonderful feelings throughout the years — I bet for her and certainly for me.
God bless her for being there and my beloved brother for being who he is.
LAURENE BOSSERT
KASPER West Mifflin
The Post-Gazette’s Kevin Flowers coordinates Random Acts of Kindness. If someone has done you or someone else right, please tell him about it at kflowers@post-gazette.com. You also can write Random Acts of Kindness at the Post-Gazette, 358 North Shore Drive, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.