Heading into 2020 Big Give McCook, Community Chest organizers had no idea what the final results would be. With the pandemic, the economy and the current political climate, the volunteer committee was hoping to just break even with last year’s total of $145,000.
But in the end, everyone pulled together to make 2020 Big Give McCook a bigger success than ever.
At the end of 24 hours of giving, more than $160,000 was raised. This includes online donations, in-person giving stations funds and $9,000 in “power hour” matching funds, a total which already pushes past the final number from last year.
But when another $37,000 in additional sponsorship funds are added in the next few days as matching funds for all 29 non-profit organizations, the total will surpass the $200,000 mark for the first time in the five year history of Big Give McCook.
It was a complete community effort to help break those records, from donors to sponsors to organizers.
Big Give McCook is organized by Community Chest, which also distributes funds throughout the year to 13 local organizations.
Community Chest co-chairperson Lisa Felker was simply overwhelmed by the continuous donations throughout the day, as well as all the financial support leading up to McCook’s largest single-day philanthropy event..
“The generosity of McCook and Southwest Nebraska was above and beyond what we were expecting,” Felker said. “Our community really stepped up when there is a bigger need than ever for many of these organizations.”
Also important to Big Give’s success is the support of those who don’t live in McCook but still value their hometown and want to ensure its success, with donations coming from across the state and across the country.
“Thank you to everyone who supported Big Give McCook, whether coming out to make a donation on Thursday, sponsoring the event, designating a retirement account payment or creating a payroll deduction,” Felker said. “We have proven that we can make McCook and Southwest Nebraska a great place to call home.”
What truly makes Big Give McCook so successful are the bonus funds from generous local sponsors, including Graff Charitable Foundation, MNB Bank, Valmont, Great Western Bank, Community Hospital, MNB Financial Services, Horizon Bank, First Central Bank, Janssen-Kool Motors, MNB Insurance, Pinnacle Bank, U-Save Pharmacy & Medical Supply, Lifetime Eye Care, Ace Hardware, Casey’s, Frontier Home Medical, Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Café, The Sports Shoppe, Hometown Family Radio, High Plains Radio, and McCook Gazette.
Community Chest created Big Give McCook five years ago as a way to pool funds for not only the Community Chest agencies but has over the years added more and more non-profits from Southwest Nebraska, who are filling crucial roles in the community and creating great projects to improve the area.
The day wouldn’t be possible without the locations which served as in-person giving stations, including Pinnacle Bank, Horizon Bank, Great Weatern Bank, First Central Bank, MNB Bank, Hillcrest Nursing Home and the YMCA.
New this year were two drive-through locations at Hillcrest Nursing Home and McCook Christian Church because of the pandemic but with plans to keep in place next year.
And finally, Big Give McCook simply wouldn’t be possible without all the individual donors. More than 878 donations were made this year, up from 700 last year.
Individuals, businesses and organizations stepped up to support Big Give McCook with donations ranging from a $5 bill to five-digit checks. All of those combined with local sponsorship funds made 2020 Big Give one for the record books.
“We are so appreciative of the support from the community,” Felker said. “When it’s all said and done, both the total number of donors as well as the total donations will make 2020 the biggest year ever.”
2020 Big Give McCook was a test for Community Chest organizers with masks and hand-sanitizers available at every giving station, but they are already making plans for the 2021 Big Give and hope the community is ready for another great event.
Community Chest is a sub-account of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, which is an affiliate of the Nebraska Community Foundation.
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.
