A.C. Moore Attempts World Record With Patriotic Spin

In an attempt to set a new world record, all 135 A.C. Moore locations nationwide participated in a three hour card making marathon on Wednesday, to create thank you cards to be sent to U.S. service personnel and veterans recovering in military hospitals.

A press release on the company's website announced the project two weeks ago, describing it as "One of the largest simultaneous celebrations in the country." 

The release said that A.C. Moore was aiming for 10,000 original, hand-crafted cards to be made during the one day event. According to the Guinness World Records website, no record currently exists.

employee Chris Kennedy was working the card making stand at the Warminster location on Wednesday. Kennedy, who usually works the morning shift, said that she was surprised when she came into work Wednesday to find that she would be working the thank you card table.

"We forget about how hard it is for other people sometimes," Kennedy said. "I think this is a great idea."

As Kennedy sat behind the covered, collapsible table, children and their parents crowded around to color and personalize the pre-printed thank you cards. The inside of the cards were left blank for personal messages and pictures.

In the first hour of the event, 32 hand-drawn cards were made. By the end of the event at 6 p.m. a total of 101 cards had been made.

"This is a great idea for A.C. Moore; very patriotic," said Buckingham resident Nancy Tomkiel as her 10-year-old daughter, Donte, fashioned a card with crayons.

"It says, 'I heart the vets'" Donte said, "and 'thank you for serving. You are so brave! Stay safe and stay strong.'"

Shalynne Mangrum watched as her two sons also made cards. Mangrum, who served in the Navy until 2005, said that two of her friends are enlisted in the military and are currently serving in Afghanistan.

"I think the toughest part of being sent overseas is probably missing your family," Mangrum said.

During her service, Mangrum was stationed in Puerto Rico and Japan.

According to General Store Manager David Warholic, the cards will be mailed to A.C. Moore's corporate office in Berlin, N.J. tomorrow morning. From there, the cards will be distributed to military hospitals and Veteran's Administration hospitals.

The event is part of a summer-long campaign that invloves special discounts for customers dressed in a patriotic way and free give-a-ways, according to the press release.

The store in Warminster also had "Make and Take" stations set up where patrons could make crafts to take home, as well as a face painting stand.