An outpouring of support for the Cayler Ellingson family was on display this past week, evidence that in rural North Dakota communities residents step up to help whoever is in need.
Family friend Nicole (Clifton) Geiszler started a GoFundMe account on Monday, Sept. 19 in support of the Ellingsons. As of Thursday (Sept. 29) morning, the GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $52,000 from over 1,300 individual donations. That is more than five times the amount originally requested when the fund was set up.
Friday, Sept. 23, was CHS Homecoming, and all in attendance at the Homecoming football game participated in a moment of silence in memory of the 2022 CHS graduate.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, Buck-it's Bar, Hanson's Bar and the Eagles Club in downtown New Rockford came together to donate 100 percent of that day's sales to the Ellingson family.
The following afternoon, organizers of the Autocross on Dirt event west of New Rockford also donated a portion of their proceeds to the family. The Ellingsons have been actively involved in organizing annual derbies and autocross events in New Rockford for many years.
The two weekend events in New Rockford combined reportedly generated more than $10,000 in additional funds for the family.