Editorial

A good way to give back to a great community

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Long-time car dealer Howard Kool and retired teacher Gene Weedin are raising funds for a piece of emergency equipment we hope and pray is never needed. The “mobile ballistic barrier” would be deployed in shooter situations, such as protecting EMS crews responding to the scene.

Kool noted that he will soon have the third generation of his family in the local school system and wanted a way to pay the community back. In truth, both Kool and Weedin have already done much to pay back their friends and neighbors, such as serving in civic organizations, community theater and on the City Council to name just a few, but their effort is noble and we’re sure donations will soon reach their goal.

Charitable activities such as these are what helps McCook be a great place to live, work and play, as stated in the Chamber of Commerce’s mission statement, but it doesn’t have to involve as much effort as the project listed above.

In fact, midnight tonight is the start of an easy, effective way to support causes that are dear to our hearts.

Check out the list of participants in the 2018 Big Give McCook and you’re sure to find something that makes life better for you, your friends or family.

Do you enjoy the arts? You can designate gifts to the Fox Theatre or McCook Arts Council.

Do you want to help those with cancer or other health needs? There’s the 2019 Cattlemen’s Ball and Community Hospital Health Foundation.

Are children and young people important to you? You can contribute to the Family Resource Center, Live Y’ers, McCook Educational Foundation, Overland Trails Council-Boy Scouts of America, Prairie Plains CASA, St. Patrick Elementary School or TeamMates Mentoring programs in McCook or Maywood.

Physical fitness and sports? Chip in for the Ed Thomas YMCA, McCook Bison Booster Club and McCook Legion Baseball Boosters.

Do you want to help make life better for the elderly, economically disadvantaged or abused? The Big Give helps support Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Services, Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation, Southwest Nebraska Habitat for Humanity or the Salvation Army.

If pets are dear to your heart, you can give to the McCook Humane Society, and many other worthy causes find support from general gifts to the McCook Community Chest and McCook Community Foundation Fund.

Your gift can be leveraged during the Big Give with a $1-to-$1 match up to $3,000 for each organization, thanks to the 2018 platinum and gold sponsors, MNB Bank, Graff Charitable Foundation and Great Western Bank.

And, if you donate in person at the following spots during the listed “Power Hour,” each donation will be eligible to be randomly drawn for up to another $1,000 in matching funds.

They are: Community Hospital, 1301 East H, 5 p.m., First Central Bank, 904 N. Highway 83, 9 a.m., Hillcrest Nursing Home, 309 W. Seventh, 8 a.m., Horizon Bank, 312 W. First, 3 p.m.; MNB Bank, 220 Norris Ave., 11 a.m., Pinnacle Bank, 602 West B, 1 p.m., and YMCA, 901 West E, 6 a.m.,

Donations will also be accepted at each of the sites during regular business hours.

For more information about Big Give McCook, visit the website, biggivemccook.org, and check back throughout the day for updates.

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