In this fast-changing world, not many organizations live to be 40 years old. The Open Door Community Center in Bismarck, ND, will celebrate 40 years of service in 2016, and that’s quite an accomplishment. Open Door began as an outreach of the United Methodist Church in the Bismarck community to reach out to their neighbors in Christian love and to offer a variety of services. Over the years they have provided preschool, day care, summer day camps, and many other services. Photo courtesy of Open Door Community Center.

As with many organizations, there was a time when they struggled to keep their ‘doors open.’ The director and board members searched for some type of fundraiser to continue this valuable service, and from their need, ODie, a clown figure with yarn hair and big fluffy feet, was born. Over the years, hundreds of these have been made and have found their way to birthday parties, travels around the US; two ODies were even dressed as a bride and groom for a wedding.

The Open Door Community Center board is asking those who still have an ODie to take a picture and submit it to be used as part of their celebration. And if there’s a story that you would like to share, that would make it even more meaningful. Mail your pictures to the Open Door Community Center at 1140 S. 12th Street in Bismarck, ND, 58504. Click here for more details about the Open Door Community Center.