Now it's our turn to get involved

Put Southwest Nebraska's theater group together with business people and you can bet the ideas are going to flow. That's what happened this past week when Howard Kool, a McCook businessman and theater supporter, started thinking about ways to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

He mentioned it to his theater and business friends and they quickly came up with an exciting plan of action.

Called "Gulf Coast Relief," the fund-raising effort will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kugler lot, located on the northeast corner of West Third and B Street.

You won't be able to miss the fund raisers. They'll be the ones waving the strings of beads to be given in appreciation for contributions. The beads are appropriate symbols because they remind us of New Orleans' famous Mardi Gras' celebrations.

The city at the mouth of the Mississippi shared its history and pageantry with the world for many, many years. Now, it's our turn to share, giving so the displaced citizens of the Gulf Coast can start getting their lives back in order.

Everyone Howard has asked to help has stepped forward. Mark Kool at Howard Kool Honda, Diane Kugler at Kugler Co. and Connie Stout at McCook Radio Group quickly came up with the money to buy 1,000 strings of beads to give away.

Theater friends agreed to help gather contributions and Brad Hershberger of Hershberger Music Co. is loaning the CD player and speakers to play jazz music during the fund-raising hours.

Now, it's our turn to help. Take a drive down B Street Saturday. Stop by West Third and B Street and open your billfolds, purses and checkbooks. Through our giving, we will be helping the people of the Gulf Coast.

Those unable to be out and about Saturday may send their donations to: Gulf Coast Relief, c/o Howard Kool, P.O. Box 609, McCook, NE 69001. Checks may be made to either Gulf Coast Relief or the American Red Cross.

Since seeing and hearing of the horror wrought by Hurricane Katrina, we have wanted to help. Now, thanks to the concern and thoughtfulness of local volunteers with a willingness to help, we have an opportunity to do so.

Thanks to all who -- very quickly -- turned "Gulf Coast Relief" and the string of beads from ideas into a plan of action. It is another outstanding example of the McCook area's record of caring and sharing.