Earlier this week, I was quickly flipping through my family’s mail. I came to a halt upon a letter from our health insurance company.
The first line of the letter said, “We understand that you have a child turning 18 in the next month - a major milestone for both of you.”
I honestly thought to myself, “Who are they talking about?” Sure, we have kids who either are in or have graduated from college, but the remaining three are still little kids living at home. But then I stopped myself, did the math and remembered, yes, I do have another child who will soon be an adult - perhaps not mentally but yes, legally an 18-year-old adult.
When did this happen? What happened to the past 18 years? Where did the last 20 or 30 or 40 years go?
Before I know it, the last three kids will be out of the house (and back again but that’s another story) and I will be moving into another phase of life.
Regardless of what phase of life we are in, it is always good to take a step back and reflect on what you have - and have not - accomplished in your life. But even more importantly, what have you done to make not just your life better, but to make other people’s lives better?
Yes, the days may drag on but the years fly by. And when it comes to an end - and yes, it will all come to an end - can you say that you made a difference in the world?
Maybe you are just figuring out your high school class schedule for next year. Maybe you are enrolling your child in kindergarten. Maybe you are that mom who forgot that you have an 18 year old graduating next year. Or maybe you just hope your joints don’t creak too much when you stand up in the morning.
There is never a perfect time to do something, just time. So it is never too late to help others and make the world an even better place to call home.
One of my favorite podcasts is “How I Built This” with Guy Raz. On a recent episode, he was interviewing David Neeleman, who has created half a dozen airlines, most notably JetBlue Airways.
Part of the interview focused on what made his airlines different, such as the first to issue E-tickets or making top-notch customer service a priority.
But the part of the interview that really caught my attention had nothing to do with airlines, but rather was Neelman’s reason behind why he does what he does. And it was a good lesson for all of us as the days and the years fly by: Ultimately, he wants to make other people’s lives better.
It’s a simple question to ask yourself: What are you doing to make other people’s lives better? What are you doing to make your own family’s life better? What are you doing to make your community better?
Or to put it even more succinctly: Do you matter? In other words, how will you be remembered at your funeral? Who would show up? What would they say?
At the end of your life, how many lives will you have touched? What impact will you have made? Will you be remembered? How will you be remembered?
These aren’t easy questions which can be answered with a simple response. Rather, these are life-long quests to be the best person you can be and to leave the world a better place than you found it.
And to make an impact, it doesn’t have to be a grandiose gesture. You don’t have to end climate change or revamp the U.S. tax code. Although if that is your cup of tea, have fun. Maybe it is walking dogs at the Humane Society or volunteering to coach even though you don’t have a child in the sport. Perhaps it is donating blood or volunteering at the bloodmobile.
Maybe at some point, it is time to take a step up to bigger projects such as building a housing complex or running for city council.
Regardless, when you start focusing on others rather than yourself, you will truly be making an impact.
As podcast wrapped up, there wasn’t a summary about Neeleman’s accomplishments in the airline industry. Rather he shared a theory he lived by: The more people you touch, the more good that you do, the more lives you have changed for the better, the happier you will be. Because in the end, it is isn’t about yourself. It is about what you are doing for others.
What are you doing to make the world - even just the little things you can touch - a better place to call home?
Linda Graff named McCook Volunteer of the Month for December 2025
By focusing on what is important, we can make an even better impact in our communities.
After a 10-year hiatus, the McCook Holiday Home Tours return focusing on downtown upstairs apartments.
While many people think volunteering is for older residents, serving your community has no age restrictions. And young people can regularly be found lending a hand or offering their services in their hometown. The November 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month recognizes one of many young people are working to make their community an even better place to call home: Grady Riemenschneider. Currently a senior at McCook High School, Grady volunteers with a wide variety of organizations and groups. As a four-year member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s Youth Change Reaction, Grady serves as the ambassador for the youth group’s “Cars Under Stars,” the outdoor movie theater at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. At nearly every showing, he can be found operating the projector and setting up the parking lot, as well as passing along his knowledge to the next ambassador. In McCook’s FFA program, Grady has held officer roles the past four years and is currently the chapter vice president, organized the chapter banquet in 2025 and coached for the conduct of chapter meetings. Along with serving as the president of the Driftwood Feeders 4-H Club, he assists with setup, tear down and fundraising for the dog show and helps fellow members train their dogs. Grady steps in to help and lead at local events, including Prairie Plains CASA’s Kick in’ It Up for CASA and the Cajun Broil; the Edward Jones Alzheimer’s Walk; operating sound boards for various groups; and Feed the Farmer. And he has served as a youth leader at McCook Christian Church for elementary youth since approximately 2018 as well as stepping up to ensure the ag program ran smoothly during a teacher’s maternity leave Upon request from his mother about some of Grady’s activities, Sharleen noted that he is the “Chief Household Operations Officer: first responder for Mom’s to-do list, go-to chauffeur and caretaker for his favorite sidekick (a.k.a. his nephew), and the family’s unofficial event planner who somehow keeps everyone together without a clipboard.” The McCook Philanthropy Council recognizes a volunteer every month who is doing good work in McCook and Red Willow County. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308-345-3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s website, mccookfoundation.org to complete a nomination form. The only requirement is that the nominee must be a resident of McCook or Red Willow County but please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community. The volunteer honoree is selected monthly by the McCook Philanthropy Council.
With the holiday's nearing, MCFF member and Mayor Linda Taylor reflects on the many things to be thankful in McCook.
The names of those people who have made a generational impact on McCook and Southwest Nebraska is a long list. Many of them are working day-in, day-out right now to make their mark on the community. And then there are those people who no longer call McCook home but still make an impact long after they are gone. Allen Strunk is one of those people. Allen passed away on Nov. 1 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada but he never lost the love of his hometown. Born and raised in McCook, Allen was a member of an already well-known family, Harry and Arlene Strunk. The Strunks started and published the McCook Daily Gazette, with the motto, “Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world.” A saying that was so important that Harry had it etched at the top of his downtown newspaper office on Norris Avenue. That sense of service was passed along to Allen, who continued to serve his community as he took over leadership of the Gazette. I didn’t know Allen personally until he came back for visits years later. Even though my first job upon arriving in McCook was at the McCook Daily Gazette and Allen had turned over the publishing reins to Gene Morris many years prior, the Strunk legacy loomed large. He was instrumental in the building of the then-new YMCA, moving the facility from downtown to its current location next to the McCook High School. He was a key player in the new hospital, again moving from one location to a new expanded space. And McCook Community College benefitted his involvement in an expansion. Those projects continue to impact McCook today. And the support didn’t stop just because Allen retired from the Gazette and left McCook. There are programs the Strunks are involved in that benefit McCook and Southwest Nebraska. The Strunks continue to support Santa Claus Lane, which is overseen by the McCook Chamber of Commerce. And which after a few years of decline is seeing a resurgence of enthusiasm and nostalgia for the decorative holiday pieces lining Norris Avenue. Allen funds the annual McCook Area Outstanding Teacher award, which provides a financial prize to several teachers every year. And Allen recognized the work of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, providing a donation several years ago so that he could see its impact while he was still alive. This has led MCFF to consider how they will recognize and remember Allen for years to come. Because of his belief in service to his community, this could mean more recognition for the countless volunteers who keep our community thriving. It could be a day of community service, to see how many people can come together to make something happen. It could be a celebration for all the great things happening in our community. During Allen’s memorial service this past week in McCook, his step-daughter-in-law read the poem, “The Dash" by Linda Ellis, who published it in 1996. It reflects on the meaning of the dash between the birth and death dates on a tombstone. The dash is a reminder of everything that happens between the moment a person is born and the moment a person dies. The dash emphasizes the importance of how one lives their life during that time. The dash prompts a person to think about living, rather than worrying about dying. Ultimately, the dash is where all the good - and the bad - happens. And Allen Strunk made the most of his “dash,” both in his community and within his family. We can’t all run a newspaper. We likely aren’t going to etch our favorite saying into a building. But we all need to consider how we are paying the “rent for the space we occupy in this world.” And we can all make a difference in our hometowns, whether we currently live in them or even if we haven’t stepped foot on the main street in years.
Everyone feels a need to be needed and it is shown through the Big Give and Meal Kit Giveaways
SWNE Big Give reaches new heights thanks to enthusiasm of organizations, individuals and businesses
Food pantries are seeing an increased need, which means the community must step up with donations of food and time to help those who struggle to put food on the table.
