Citizens 'pay it forward' in a variety of ways

A 12-year-old boy didn't think it was safe for his elderly neighbor to walk her rambunctious puppy, so the boy took the puppy on a walk every day.

A note was left on someone's windshield stating, "Hope you don't mind, I aired up your tire. It was flat. You might keep an eye on it. It's your valve stem leaking."

When a local resident's front porch was invaded by bees, a Good Samaritan set up a hive and relocated the bees. He then filled the holes where the bees had moved in.

A new teacher was feeling apprehensive about her work and home responsibilities, so a friend sent an encouraging note, along with a $50 gift card to a nearby restaurant.

These are just a few of the Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) entries that were received by the McCook Community Foundation during their recent campaign. Each of the above gestures were carried out with no expectation of payment or notoriety. Some were performed by friends and neighbors, others came from complete strangers. They were all simply small gestures of thoughtfulness that have an enormous impact on many lives.

The McCook Community Foundation Fund will be honoring the submissions on Friday, Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. at the Norris bandshell. The group is inviting everyone in the community to come and enjoy an ice cream float, as well as hear about the 2011 grant award recipients.

According to Fund Coordinator Lindsey Foster, about $25,000 in grants will be given back to the community from the McCook Community Foundation Fund. The 2011 grants continue a tradition of "looking forward, giving back" that MCFF has upheld since its inception in 2000.

Generous contributors to the McCook Community Foundation Fund believe in the "pay it forward" philosophy. Through endowed gifts, which allow for the earnings on the gift to be distributed every year while leaving the principle intact, MCFF founders have witnessed their contributions benefit community organizations, provide scholarships, and improve the quality of life for area residents.

Each year the McCook Community Foundation Fund advisory committee, a group of men and women who live and work in McCook and are attuned to the needs of the community, are assigned the difficult task of choosing the projects to be awarded.

The random acts of kindness that are just a way of life for area residents are an inspiration to MCFF committee members and contributors.