CNN.com, in conjunction with "American Morning," asked survivors of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma to share their stories of thanks for the kind things people have done for them. Here are a few of their many responses, some of which have been edited:This season the Graham family has more reason to give thanks than ever before. We would like to thank the evacuees that took care of each other while trapped in St. Augustine High School, the Army National Guardsman that personally called our home with good news, and the North Eunice Baptist Mission of Eunice, Louisiana. Their bravery and commitment helped rescue my 80-year-old grandparents from the chaos of Hurricane Katrina. If not for the kindness of these complete strangers and the grace of God, I am not certain that my elderly grandparents could have escaped "the city that care forgot." I am forever indebted to them, and I wish them the happiest holiday season of all this year.Arianne Graham Atlanta, GeorgiaI evacuated from St. Bernard Parish and found myself in Baltimore, Maryland, with nothing but my two dogs. My bank account wasn't working and I knew no one. But a lot of people have helped me throughout this ordeal and continue to help me. When my money ran out to pay for the motel room I was staying in, a lady contacted me and helped to link me up with Mildred Johnson, who would allow my dogs and I to live with her. When we realized that I would need more permanent housing, the same lady contacted a local Catholic church to find someone who would know someone who would rent to a lady with two dogs, and a week later I was moving into a one-bedroom apartment with a great community atmosphere. Baltimore has been a great place for me. Strangers have bought me breakfast when they heard I was displaced. The school system took my credentials and employed me as a special education teacher. Strangers I have never met sent pots and pans, gift cards and other items to make me feel at home. I miss my home and have a soft spot in my heart for Louisiana, but Baltimore has started to feel like home and that's what I'm most thankful for. Money will come and go, but the people who say a kind word and show they care will always leave a lasting impression.Rebecca Sebring Baltimore, MarylandI was not directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. I was a Red Cross Disaster Relief Volunteer. I want to thank those who made it possible for our team of volunteers to hand out financial assistance to those in need. The Florida National Guard (based in Gainesville and Pensacola), Florida State Patrol, Virginia State Patrol, Police ICE from D.C., Mississippi State Patrol, and the local Bay St. Louis and Waveland police force made it possible for us to help. Without their hard work and help our jobs would have been impossible. They provided traffic control, crowd control and were an invaluable part of our team. They need to be acknowledged for this dedication. Thank you for your service and your selflessness while in Mississippi.Jean Savage Offutt AFB, NebraskaThe City of Menard was AMAZING! We were heading to Central Texas for Hurricane Rita. We thought we would be the only evacuees in Menard because it is over 350 miles away from Houston, supposedly Ground Zero for Rita. However, when we got there, there were over 150 people there. The Menard Fire Department and EMS Service had already started getting services and meals donated for evacuees. They had set up the Baptist Encampment (small cabins for families) for those without a hotel. They got us sheets, personal items, baby needs, and three hot meals each day. The local sheriff's office was in touch with the governor's office and gave us updates each day about our return. It was AMAZING. We will definitely head back to Menard for the next hurricane. And there will be a next!Mary McKinney Houston, TexasI want to thank my New Orleans family for making me realize how important family is. I moved away from New Orleans 11 years ago, married and had a son. We've lived in Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi and now Nashville, Tennessee, always more than a quick drive from my family in New Orleans. When Katrina threatened the city, my family came to us in Nashville, thinking they'd return home in a couple of days. Nearly three months later, my sisters Heidi and Allison and my niece Lynda have decided to stay in Nashville. Allison and her daughter just moved into their own apartment last weekend, and Heidi will begin looking for her own place and possibly a new career in January. What may have started as an inconvenience has left us a much stronger family. My son, London, absolutely adores having his extended family here every day. And so do I. After years of being an island unto ourselves, it's now so easy to see that family means everything. Even when possessions are lost, hometowns are obliterated and painful new images of destruction block older memories of joy, having your family by your side conquers all. So, I want to thank my mom and dad, my sisters and my niece for showing me what family really means. Thank you.Mimi Eckhard Nashville, TennesseeFrom a motel in Tennessee I was watching television reports of Katrina's progress when a scroll appeared at the bottom of the screen saying that a breach had occurred in the 17th Street canal and New Orleans was flooding. My home is two blocks east of that canal. My heart sank. I knew I had lost everything.It was a couple of weeks before I was able to return to the area. What brought me back was the reopening of schools in St. Charles Parish, where I had been a teacher for 20 years. Most of my friends there had been spared major damage, and all were anxious to help me in any way they could. I would arrive at school to find a teacher or a school board member had bought me clothes, knowing I had left town with but three changes. Teachers would pass me in the hall and hug me, then press a check into my hand. Cards filled with wonderful sentiments and cash would appear in my mailbox.But an example of how extraordinary are the people of the area is the Marino family. My losses to the storm had made me decide to retire and move to the Southwest. The day I left school for the last time I found a tin left for me by the Marinos. In it were brownies (my favorite) made by Mary, the mom, and cards from each member of the family. Each of the kids had sent me some of their allowance for that month to help me get a start in my new life. You're damned right I cried when I opened each one.It was worth losing my material wealth to see how rich I am in friends, how wonderful are the people of Louisiana, and how much more important love is than "stuff."Bob Camba New Orleans, LouisianaOn the morning of August 28, 2005, my husband, our daughter, and I evacuated our beachfront apartments, Arbor Station in Long Beach, Mississippi, due to Hurricane Katrina coming in. When we arrived back approximately one week later, our entire apartment complex was destroyed. Our apartment flooded with six feet of water and we lost any and all possessions we ever had. When I arrived back at work, a friend I work with offered to let us stay at her house for however long we needed and requested that we pay her no money. Her name is Katie Bryant. We both work on the Construction Battalion Naval Base in Gulfport, Mississippi. I just want to let her know how thankful I am for what she did for my family and that I am thrilled to be providing her the same service. We recently bought a house and she and her two kids are now living with us. I'd also like to thank Paula, Roy, Starzz Management, and the U.S. Navy for all of their support.Amanda Butt Saucier, MississippiMy parents, younger brother, and Great Dane evacuated from New Orleans to Memphis, Tennessee. I live in Los Angeles but went to visit them as soon as it became clear that they weren't going to return home anytime soon. Perhaps I have low expectations from living in Los Angeles, but in Tennessee I was just blown away at how everyone was so kind to us -- from a church donating free lunches/dinners at our hotel, La Quinta Inn, free "make your own ice cream sundae night" for evacuees in the lobby, restaurants pouring in with coupons for us, and so much more. What I will always remember from the trip, however, is something that helped us while we were "down at the end of lonely street" and trying to "find a new place to dwell." We decided to go to Graceland for a day when we were told we could go in free and get free passes to all the attractions. A free ticket to Graceland -- the King would have been proud. Thank you to Graceland and all the nice people in Memphis who made our days go from "all shook up" to a little brighter and sunnier.Kimberly Posin New Orleans, LouisianaA lot of attention has been given, and perhaps rightly so, to the victims of the many hurricanes that have hit the United States. Having recently survived vicious, category four Wilma, huddled in a small church shelter in Cancun, Mexico, with our family and with scores of other Americans for what seemed an eternity, we also have much to be thankful for. My wife and I in particular thank God that our children, their partners, and our precious 6-year old grandson have been given a second chance to continue with their lives.Our thanks, however, would not be complete or genuine if we did not also give thanks to the beautiful Mexican people who not only shared their shelter with us, but also shared their food and water, cared for us, and supported us during the long nightmare. Oblivious of their own losses -- some lost everything they owned to Wilma -- these selfless and gallant people unquestionably helped us make it through the two longest nights and day of our lives. People like Abelardo Patsanlocar, a man who lost his home -- a humble shack -- and all his possessions to the hurricane. During the eye of Wilma, which hovered over and around Cancun for more than 10 hours, Abelardo took us to what had been his home. Only a toilet bowl remained. Yet, Abelardo and the other wonderful Mexican people never complained.Once the ordeal was over, and as the buses started to leave the shelter to take us back to our hotels, Abelardo and the others lined up outside the shelter to wish us well, with smiles on their faces and true affection in their hearts. It is then when we realized that, while we were heading back to our comfortable homes and our comfortable lifestyles, they remained behind facing the nearly impossible task of literally picking up the pieces of their destroyed homes and of their devastated lives. It is this gallant and altruistic conduct that we are so thankful for and that we will never forget.Dorian and Carol J. de Wind Austin, Texas