McCOOK, Neb. -- COVID Cash is officially gone, at least by those trying to purchase the certificates.
Now it is up to all those who purchased COVID Cash to spend the certificates by Sept. 1, 2020.
The McCook Stimulus Spending program - otherwise known as COVID Cash - was created by McCook Christian Church and funded with a $10,000 grant from the McCook Community Foundation Fund.
Grant funds were used to provide a $20 bonus for every $100 in certificates purchased, up to a $500 maximum. But when those funds were used up in less than a week in mid-April, MCFF provided another $10,000 grant to continue the popular program. Those additional bonus funds ran out Monday at noon.
Led by Jody and Kyle Dellevoet, McCook Christian Church volunteers spent 4 to 5 hours each day at the Keystone’s Norris Alley office selling the certificates and promoting the program.
COVID Cash can be spent at more than 100 local businesses throughout McCook. A complete list of participating businesses can be found on the COVID Cash Facebook page.
When all the COVID Cash certificates are redeemed, $120,000 in spending will have taken place - $100,000 to purchase the certificates and $20,000 in bonus funds.
The funds were from McCook Community Foundation Fund’s COVID-19 Response Account, created to specifically address issue related to the pandemic.
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To kick off the new year, Jo Beebe has been selected as the January 2026 McCook Volunteer of the month. While many people might know Jo for her years at the Sports Shoppe, she can be found giving hours of her time to the community, especially at St. Patrick Church. Whether during the weekly Mass or for a funeral or wedding, Jo shares her beautiful voice from the choir loft, as well as leading the choir members. Jo, along with her husband Harold, also has served as the St. Pat’s GALA host couple in the past and continues to help with set-up and cleanup of the annual event. Jo is also active with the Fall Festival, the Rosary Rally and the Wild Game Feed in Curtis every year. She attends every the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults class and helps students prepare for confirmation. And since retiring from the Sports Shoppe, she is active in the Altar Society, and volunteers at the Bargain Bazaar thrift store. According to her nomination, “The way Jo gives of her time and talents to our parish and community is a reflection of her faith,” and the community and the church are better because of her generosity. The McCook Philanthropy Council selects the monthly recipient for the McCook Volunteer of the Month award as part of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s McCook Volunteer program. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308.340.3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the MCFF 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. Please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community.
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