2007 Featured Essays

Thank you to everyone who nominated a friend or loved one. Whether someone has gone above and beyond the call of duty or simply made a kind gesture, National Thank You Day was created as an opportunity to show our gratitude to those around us for all that they do. Below are some inspiring essays that captured the true spirit of the everyday thank you.

Al Atwater, Tampa, FL

In Florida, it averages about 98 degrees in the summertime. Nonetheless, my mailman Charles faithfully delivers our mail and packages in a non air-conditioned mail truck daily with a smile. He checks on elderly neighbors and always has something pleasant to say. To thank him for all that he does, I think he deserves a converted air-conditioned mail truck, a vacation to his dream spot, and a year supply of his favorite foods.

Richard Holub, Middletown, DE

My son-in-law deserves a heartfelt "merci!" Since the day we met, he has treated me like his own Mom. He stops by to see if I need anything fixed or moved because I live alone. He takes me to the store when he has a day off. He buys me the same gift as his real Mom for every holiday. I just adore him. My son-in-law never whines or complains, and the only time I've ever heard him utter a want or a wish, it was for a greenhouse. He saw a greenhouse kit in a magazine and said, "If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to build one of those out back." Please help me to say "Thank You" to the best son-in-law a mother could ever want. My daughter won the lottery the day she met him and our whole family won, too. Merci!

James Stevens, Salt Lake City, UT

For a while we only had one car that my husband used for work. My Dad gave us his second car, which was very old but still worked. I used it to run my kids to school or to the grocery store. One day, my Dad showed up and gave me the keys and title to his current car. I could not believe it! When he told me that he would need to have his old one back, I gladly gave it to him, assuming he needed a car for himself. However, a few hours later I found out he dropped off the car to one of his neighbors who had no car and three kids. I think he deserves a camping trailer for his selfless generosity.

Mike Evans, Auburn, WA

My daughter's soccer coach is also a local schoolteacher. He is one of the most selfless people that I know. Mike always seems to find a spot on the soccer team for "at risk" girls. Sometimes he has to pick them up so that they can attend tournaments, practices and fundraisers. He does so gladly and without complaint. In addition, he always seems to wrangle up the money for girls who need to pay for their tournament fees and always has a spare pair of cleats for those in need. It would be great if he could take an all-expense paid trip with his family. Although he would never ask for any recognition, it would be nice to show him that his generosity does not go unnoticed. He serves as a mentor and a role model within the community.

John McKenzie, Chicago, IL

My husband, John and I pastor a small church in the inner city of Chicago. This is not just a job but a lifestyle. My husband goes above and beyond his regular duties helping people in our community. He helps people with their rent, utilities, groceries, whatever their needs, he can't say no. He's always willing to lend a helping hand. He has helped people move to their 3rd floor apartments, visits the sick and dying, takes lunches, toiletries and blankets to homeless people in our area. His car has taken a beating going under viaducts looking for people to help; yet he works tirelessly without complaining. His car is a patchwork of mended & duct taped metal, even the front seat is held up by a folding chair. I would love to see him get a new minivan to make his acts of kindness easier! Thank You!

Charles Clark, Bedford, TX

Our school's Head Custodian, Charles, goes above and beyond in his duties both as an employee and a human being. Charles grew up during the period of segregation, and he mentors many of our African-American students, encouraging them with emotional (and financial) support. And he continues to support them after they graduate from high school; he once drove across two states to help a former student (who was transferring colleges) move on only one day's notice. When Hurricane Katrina devastated Mississippi, he immediately packed his pickup truck full of food, water, supplies and cash and drove there to deliver hope to residents, the same hope he delivers to children at Trinity High School. He, his beautiful wife, and the niece they have taken under wing deserve a nice long cruise, something they would probably never take the time to do on their own.

Michelle Hagedorn, Allen, TX

The person I nominate is my daughter's teacher, Mrs. Hagedorn. We live in a tiny school district with limited funding. My daughter has dyslexia and attention deficit disorder. Her teacher spent many extra hours teaching her strategies that she learned on her own time to help her. She also spent a lot of her own money from her small teachers salary to buy special teaching aids to teach her. My daughter is reading on her grade level now and passed the state test and 5th grade. We owe everything to this teacher! She deserves a huge gift certificate to the school supply store of her choice and a shopping spree for a new wardrobe. And lots of chocolate. All great teachers deserve some chocolate!

Nashville, TN

Sacrificing everything unnecessary, my mother always placed my education as her paramount financial expenditure. When I was young, she quit her career as an artist to become a nurse. Years later, I discovered that she made this unwanted life-change primarily for a benefit provided by a local hospital that paid for 70% of my college tuition. I spent many nights watching her try to juggle the debt that never seemed to relent. I pray for us to win the lottery every night before I'd fall asleep. Now grown, I have a stellar education, phenomenal career, one huge outstanding debt, and a new ending to my prayers. My wish is for my mother to have the money to pay off the last of her debts, retire with dignity, and restock her art supplies. She gave up her art for me; it's about time I give it back.

Shirley Condon, Lehigh Acres, FL

Shirley Condon makes quilts for charity. Since January, our quilting group has made 263 quilts for hospitalized children, most of them quilted by Shirley. But she doesn't stop there: she makes quilts for injured soldiers at Walter Reed, quilts for those who have lost their homes, quilts for premature infants. Sometimes, she adds matching pillowcases. Unfortunately, after heavy, near daily use, her quilting machine has become difficult to use and the thread often breaks. She needs a professional, industrial-type quilting machine and quilting supplies (batting, thread, fabric) so she can continue to do this work that she loves.

Nicole Ophaug, Lansing, MI

Recently, our receptionist, Nicole asked about my lunch plans. "I'll be skipping lunch today," I said, "not enough time or money". Around 1:00 pm the same day, to my delight and surprise, a PBJ sandwich, some cheese curls, a drink and a note had been placed on my desk - Enjoy! Love, Nicole. In my eyes this was no ordinary sandwich; it was a heaping portion of love and kindness that I really needed that day. It filled not only my belly, but my heart as well! Although I've already expressed my gratitude to her, it would be outrageously wonderful to thank her again. In recognition of her generous spirit, I propose a $5,000 donation be made to the charitable organization she co-founded, season tickets for her and her family to local hockey games, a family Hawaiian vacation and new prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses for the trip!