100 days, 100 thank yous, 2 special ladies

Students and staff at the Anne Carlsen Center for Children (ACCC) will be thanking two special ladies in a big way during its annual 100 th day of school celebration at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Helen McCormack, Des Lacs, N.D. and Georgia Bjornstad, Fargo, N.D. have been sending birthday and Christmas cards, along with a personal check, to every child at the ACCC for over 25 years.

When students receive the cards, they put that money in their personal accounts. Gloria Jones, a teacher at the ACCC, said students enjoy spending money to go out to eat, buy a special book or toy, or purchase personal items like shampoo, cologne, or hair gel.

“The kids are always excited to receive their cards and to buy something special from these ladies,” Jones said.

The 56 students, their teachers, and the ACCC staff are working hard to make this celebration extra special. Students and teachers are preparing scrapbooks with thank you notes and pictures. Jones’ class will be singing during the ceremony. Other classes will each do some sort of presentation of thanks.

The generosity of Bjornstad and McCormack is appreciated by students and staff alike.

“It’s just fun to get a gift and fun to get a gift from someone you don’t know personally and know that person still cares about you,” said Marcia Gums, chief operating officer. “The staff enjoys knowing that these ladies have thought of the kids and that they think the kids here are important.”

Bjornstad and McCormack became aware of and involved with ACCC in different ways, but the common thread is a love for children and desire to help these children.

“I have no idea why we started sending cards,” said Bjornstad. “My husband and I have always been giving people. We both just loved children and I think it was just natural for us to think of the Jamestown kids and do something for them.”

“Everyone enjoys getting mail. And even if you don’t understand it, you still look for the mail and that’s one of the reasons I started sending the cards,” said McCormack.

Bjornstad and McCormack have been invited to participate in the celebration. Both ladies have watched children grow throughout their years of giving and feel very connected to the ACCC without ever having visited in person.

“The Anne Carlsen (Center for Children) has been one of my favorite schools and I would really like to meet some of the children,” Bjornstad said.

Although 100 may seem like a very big number to many kids, the gratitude in the hearts of students and staff at the ACCC for these two ladies flows far beyond any number could describe.

“Theirs is a generosity beyond words,” Gums said.