Still catching up… Here is the gratitude blog post intended for Thursday, November 22, 2012 – Thanksgiving Day!  On this bright, sunny, glorious day here in southern Alexandria, it is a great pleasure to express a hearty gratitude for many free things I have been blessed to receive.

Matthew Rodela, Jiffy-PC
Matthew Rodela is the owner of Jiffy-PC, a computer and web design services firm based in Germantown, Maryland.  I have never met Matt in person, but I did have the pleasure of meeting him virtually in December 2011.  I posted a project on the Washington, D.C. craigslist job board seeking someone to crop the backgrounds out of some photos for a Christmas gift I was making for the girls in my Girl Scout troop. 

I am so grateful to Matt because he performed the cropping services for me at no charge.  Matt told me how important it was for him to do community service by completing small projects like mine for free.  Matt’s work was quick and beautiful.  You can see the results in the photo above.  (The images were printed on fabric and sewn to make a custom pillow.)

Lowe’s Build & Grow
I am so grateful for the Lowe’s Build and Grow clinics for kids (ages 4 - 7).  We have been to Lowe’s store #0715 on Richmond Highway numerous times in the last two years and have participated in these skills-building clinics. 

The kids receive a kit containing wood pieces and nails as well as instructions on how to build a wood project.  The projects vary each time, and are most often associated with current movies that are playing at the theater.  With a borrowed hammer and some guidance from mom or dad, the kids get to build little wooden masterpieces for free.  All participants receive badges.

I love these clinics because it has given my daughter a taste of using a hammer while doing a cute wood project.

Papa John’s
I am also very grateful to Papa John’s for the free pizzas it has given to me as a result of my active membership in their prolific Papa Rewards program. Although we do not order pizza frequently, we always make sure it is a Papa John’s pizza in order to build up our points balance.

We normally go to Papa John’s store #848 on Richmond Highway.  The gentlemen there have always been very nice in handling my order.

Michael’s
My family of four went to Michael’s on Richmond Highway in early February 2012.  At the time, Michael’s was having a contest.  Shoppers were invited to fill out an entry form for a chance to win movie tickets and a Michael’s gift card.  To my surprise, I found out later that day that I won!  That was the good news.  The bad news is that Michael’s dropped the ball on getting me my prizes.

Several months later after Michael’s had personnel changes, I finally got to talk to a wonderful customer service representative.  Unfortunately, I do not remember his name.  Was it Stanton?  I do remember, however, that he was the customer service manager who replaced Leana.

Stanton is likely in his mid-30s with short, dark brown hair and with several teeth missing.  He was incredibly professional and attentive to my needs, hanging on to my every word and listening to my complaints with sympathy.  He called me several times to provide status updates on my prizes.  Not two weeks from the moment I met Stanton, I finally received my movie tickets, gift card, and a calligraphy pen.  I am so grateful for Stanton’s stellar customer service.

Shopper’s Food & Pharmacy
The Shopper’s Food & Pharmacy on Facebook offers coupons for free food items with purchase; I redeem those coupons at my local Shopper’s on Richmond Highway.  Once again, I must express a sincere gratitude to Shopper’s Food & Pharmacy on Richmond Highway. 

I am incredibly grateful not just for the free items themselves, but for my local Shopper’s in honoring those coupons.

What are you grateful for today? I do hope you’ll share!