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.
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Building Connections in McCook Matters June in McCook will be abuzz with fun events including a Youth Summit, hosted by McCook Community Foundation Fund. Our young people in Youth Change Reaction will host the first Nebraska Community Foundation gathering for youth, which will bring youth from across Nebraska to McCook. While still in the planning stages, our students identified that McCook is great because of connections . Our young people easily recognize how critical this factor is to people attraction, to people retention, and to improve their futures. What I miss most about my high school classroom is connections with students and colleagues. In education, I taught first, second, and sometimes third generations in families. My husband, Greg, and I are not McCook natives, but I eventually knew who was related to whom and usually where the parent(s) were employed. Going to the grocery store meant greetings from students and sometimes their family members. I officially retired from my high school classroom nine years ago in May. When you retire, the most-asked question becomes “What do you do with your time?” I try to maintain those connections and make new ones by belonging. For the past seven years, Sharon Bohling and I have volunteered to help plan and organize Bison Days for our high school students, which took place February 10 and 11. It would not happen without the financial support of McCook Community Foundation Fund, plus the McCook High School, local businesses, and the talented people of Southwest Nebraska who say “yes” when one of us reaches out to ask for the donation of time and talent. I would venture that they allow us to be on the Bison Days’ committee because we both have connections within our community—it’s certainly not our computer savvy. Connections can also solve a problem. Recently, I signed up to help a local family in crisis. My morning plan revolved around delivering my donation at a designated drop-off place. That didn’t work out. Fortunately, I still work with youth in various capacities, so I know that Keri Wilkinson works for Camy Bradley. Keri was an organizer for the family fundraiser, so I walked in Camy’s office hoping to find Keri. She was not there, so Camy and I visited briefly. She knew someone (who I did not know) who could possibly give me further direction. Only in a town with connections are you able to interrupt someone’s business, have her reach out for you using her connections , and offer to keep the donations for me until Keri’s return. Another great example of connecting can be found over coffee. Dee Friehe and I are longtime teacher friends. During a chance meeting at the grocery store a few weeks ago, she shared how she was there following a funeral service and was gathering supplies to deliver supper to the grieving family that night. She also updated me on her group of adults who meet for coffee on Thursdays at Ember’s, which varies from 8-28 depending on the day. She recognized the need for adults moving to McCook or folks just wanting to get out to make connections . Dee’s husband, Mark, also hosts his own group of men who are new(er) to McCook. She regaled me with stories of their Christmas party and other special gatherings. Wanting to call McCook your home is solidified by building connections . Ronda Graff has written about McCook Connects which matches a McCook person with someone new to the community of similar interests. I earned my McCook Connects’ T-shirt welcoming a young family with children. We have since spent many hot summer days sitting on bleachers together cheering on our 4-H horse kids while they show their horses. Warning: I connected them with a “free” new-to-them horse. Be careful connecting with me or you’ll probably own a horse. You do not have to be retired to connect in this community. Volunteering is a surefire way to meet people. McCook has many civic groups looking for new faces. Attend a church here; we have many welcoming congregations. Go to ball games or school concerts, attend concerts in the park, learn a new skill through the college, show up at a Third Thursday event or invite the neighbors for a BBQ. Take your youngsters to story hour or Move and Groove at the library. Go watch an event at the Kiplinger Arena. You can even take it a step further: Make a friend or call a friend and invite him/her to go with you. It is human connection that keeps us healthy and happy. If McCook Community Foundation Fund can help you connect in some meaningful way, please reach out for advice or support. *** While Pam Wolford may be retired, she is just as busy serving on the McCook Community Foundation Fund committee and started a new Learn and Return Scholarship with MCFF, while stepping up to grandparent whenever the call comes in.
