In 2001, I had been writing a weekly column in the Gazette for several years, highlighting activities in our community, recounting the highjinks of my family and commenting on things that peaked my interest.
But that column stopped the week Graff kid No. 4 came along, joining three others under the age of six and doubling the chaos. But more significantly, the morning I brought him home from the hospital was one of those days that not only do I remember vividly but is a day that everyone remembers as well: Sept. 11, 2001.
We have entered yet another era that everyone will be talking about for years - if not generations - to come as we deal with the coronavirus Pandemic.
As the local coordinator for the McCook Community Foundation Fund, I have the privilege of working with a numerous organizations, businesses and individuals to make McCook, Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas an even better place to call home.
And thanks to the Gazette, I am resuming my column as part of the foundation fund outreach, hoping to share what is going on in our communities, connect people with resources, to ease fear and answer questions and because I can’t stay serious too long…maybe how to type with a dog under each elbow as I am now.
One of the resources which has been created as a response to the pandemic is a new COVID-19 Response Account through MCFF. The new account allows people to make tax-deductible donations if they have the financial ability to do so. But it is also available for local non-profit organizations and governmental agencies to get funding for programs to help during this crisis.
The fund advisory committee realizes that we all depend on each other and this is an opportunity to help those who are in need. Several programs have been developed to address the crisis, but the fund advisory committee would love to hear additional ideas.
I would also love to hear about ideas that many have already implemented. How have your kids reacted to seeing all the bears in the windows? Do you have enough chalk for the sidewalk drawings with encouraging messages? How are you dealing with those extra pounds thanks to all this homecooking?
Other ideas I have heard range from a “victory garden” where seeds are provided so people can plant their own gardens, creating care bags for everyone in an apartment complex, even online happy hours where everyone sits in front of their screen with a drink in hand.
While we would love to just hit pause and then return to things as they were, this crisis is going to last longer than anyone can imagine so it is an opportunity to re-think how we do things as we move forward.
We are all trying to figure out our role and how we can help in the pandemic. I’ve been involved in a variety of conference calls over the past few weeks including one with David Brooks, the New York Times columnist who visited McCook last March.
Brooks has written several columns on the pandemic already but reminded the dozens on the conference call that we don’t have to be passive recipients, but rather active participants. “This is an opportunity to come out of the crisis better than we were before,” Brooks said.
He also encouraged “caremongering.” Rather than “scaremongering,” people are encouraged to be stewards of their community and promote “caremongering” by connecting and caring for others.
There are so many questions. How do we keep our main streets full when this is over? How can those people and businesses which are able help those which are struggling? How do we keep our community together when we can’t be together?
Ultimately, this crisis has the ability to tear us apart but alternatively, we could use this to pull us together.
My biggest takeaway from the call with David Brooks was the following and a great way to end this column:
Everyone needs to keep taking their Vitamin C: Connecting, Conversing, Caring and being Curious.
— Ronda Graff is grateful to be a mother of 7, is grateful they have room to run outside, and is grateful for a sound-proof door on her home office
Jeremy Shaw named April 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
While the Bison Alumni Newsletter will still be available digitally, a new printed service is available.
During a recent performance at the Fox Theater by the Lied's Arts Across Nebraska, there was one group who was not thanked: those who showed up for the event, which is a big deal.
Mark Friehe named March McCook Volunteer of the Month.
Although the Bodensteiners no longer live in Southwest Nebraska, they are still connected and wanted to see if prosper and thrive.
From long-term projects to weekly events, you cannot say "there is nothing to do" or "nothing is happening."
With the goal of reaching 200 subscriptions, the Bison Alumni Newsletter is launching a subscription service.
Long-time volunteer Don Harpst was recognized as the first McCook Volunteer of the Month in March 2025.
McCook's youth survey shows that young people now value safety in their community, something McCook provides.
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.
