GGC Day 1: Donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

You will never believe what I found this morning in Marshalls. Teeny, tiny, fur-lined Crocs. Somebody help me.

Five is home with confirmed swine flu, and nothing makes her happier than a new pair of shoes. So I got her a pair of the teeny, tiny, fur-lined delicacies.

When I got to the checkout counter, the cashier asked me if I’d like to apply for a Marshalls credit card.

“No, thanks,” I responded, “But could I donate to this cause?”

I’d grabbed one of those slips of paper for which you donate $1, write your name at the bottom, and then see it hung with all the others on the store’s wall. In this case, the recipient of the donations is St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

“Yeah, sure. Hopefully, one day we won’t have to ask customers if they want our credit card,” Jean the Cashier commented.

“Hopefully, one day you won’t have to ask customers if they’d like to donate to this cause,” I responded.

“Oh, I know. Thankfully we’ll be done with that effort in two weeks.”

“No, I mean hopefully one day this hospital will no longer need campaigns such as this because there will no longer be a need for the hospital!”

“Oh, yeah, that too,” said Jean.

Clearly, Jean needed a large coffee, a shot of bourbon and/or a visit from the Be Happy or Learn To Fake It Fairy. Immediately.

With 150,000+ new unemployment filings each week, I figure if I’m out buying teeny, tiny, fur-lined Crocs — even at half price — I should acknowledge my own blessings. So I’m starting a Gratitude Giving Campaign.

Every day until at least Christmas, I’m choosing something or someone to help. $1 here, $3 there. It’s not a lot. But, I figure if everyone who enters Marshall’s today donates $1, by day’s end it’ll amount to a nice sum for St. Jude’s.

It’s my way of looking up and saying Thank You That I Could Purchase These Crocs Today.

Wanna get on board? Start your own Gratitude Giving Campaign! Leave a comment, and let us know how you honored your campaign each day.

Need inspiration? Check out others’ comments. I’ll continue to post suggestions as well, and highlight the most fun/interesting/creative comments posted.