03/23/2026
If you missed this weeks article, here it is…
Here at PNC, we are blessed with many employees that make our facility a home and become family to our residents. Today, however, I want to tell you about one employee that continuously goes above and beyond and never seeks any credit for doing so. Her name is Donna Thom.
It all began around 5 years ago when I stopped at the hardware store in Cavalier and ran into Donna. We stopped to chat and I inquired about how she was enjoying her newly retired lifestyle. She informed me that it was going well, but that she was looking for something part time to do to keep herself busy. I eagerly jumped at the chance to tell her that PNC was looking for a driver to take residents to their various appointments. She thought that would be a wonderful fit for her, so I connected her with Jeannie Hornung who oversees setting up appointments and transportation for our residents. As soon as I saw Jeannie, I ecstatically told her the great news about Donna. Since Donna was a retired nurse that was very much loved by the patients she worked with, we knew we had hit the “jackpot!”
At the end of April, Donna will officially have been a part of the PNC family for 5 years. Our initial thoughts were spot on, and Donna has been a Godsend to not only PNC staff, but even more so to the residents. If a resident needs to get to an appointment, not much will stop Donna from getting them there. Even when she has personal things going on that conflict with a resident’s appointment, she is very apologetic. She treats each person with the respect and dignity they deserve and always has a cheerful smile on her face. Her kindness and generosity go above and beyond what is asked of her. Many times, Donna has taken residents out to eat or to do a little shopping after their appointment, even when it’s not convenient for her. A lot of those times Donna will even use her own money to pay for food or items the residents need. FYI, Donna has never once told me she does this, but I have heard it from several of the residents upon their return to PNC. Donna never seeks out acknowledgement for her wonderous deeds and often tries to stay under the radar of people’s praises for her.
When I asked Jeannie, who works the closest with Donna, how she would describe her, she responded with one word “selfless!” Baba Hari Dass once said “Cultivate a sympathetic heart, humility in dealings, and selflessness in action. If these are practiced with earnestness and sincerity, then you will win the race of life.” I completely agree with this and can undoubtedly say that Donna is indeed winning the race of life. Thank you to Donna for all you do for so many!
