Community Connection Column
I have had the privilege of being on various Zoom calls with people from across the country as we make our way through these trying times. And one theme continues to emerge on a regular basis: People are turning to the outdoors to deal with this crisis.
When someone is stressed out by yet another conference call, they go out for a walk. When they need the kids to take a break from endless homework, they head to a state park. When they don’t have enough frustration in their life, they go fishing or golfing.
Fortunately, we live in an area where there are countless ways to get outside and enjoy nature.
An idea the Nebraska Community Foundation champions is ABCD-thinking or Asset-Based Community Development. In other words, focus on abundance rather than scarcity by using “what’s strong to fix what’s wrong.”
Just one area where we are strong is that we are blessed with ample opportunities to get outside. Of course, everyone’s ideas are different when it comes to what they enjoy outside.
Some people are making plans to put in a garden, whereas the thought of spending hours this summer pulling weeds makes me want to pull out my hair. On the flip-side, some people can’t wrap their head around my desire to spend hours sitting on a rock-hard bicycle seat, peddling just for the fun of it.
And I still can’t fully explain the joy of camping, when we have a perfectly good house waiting for us without all the bugs biting us in our sleep and hot dogs dropped into the campfire. But when the Nebraska Games and Parks took away overnight camping earlier this month, many of us were distraught. Thankfully, state parks are scheduled to reopen May 8 and we’ll be there with bells on and s’more sticks ready.
As for those who say that there is nothing do, they simply aren’t trying.
One of my boys took the kayak down the Republican River this week and only had to get out and push off a sandbar three times. Walk around Norris Park - while maintaining safe social distancing - 3 times and you’ve got a mile done. Or simply sit in your backyard, enjoying this chance to slow down and take a moment to be thankful for the little things.
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If you need a specific reason to get outside, there is the Community Hospital Virtual 5K Wellness Run/Walk. Because of the current situation, there really isn’t a race but thanks to the generosity of Community Hospital, there is no cost for the race. The race is pretty simple: Sign up online at republicanriverfitnessseries.com and then complete a 3.1 mile run or walk sometime between now and May 14 at 10 p.m. Participants are asked to submit a picture of their watch or themselves out on the run. We really love the pictures of those taken in front of Community Hospital’s sign or any health care facility…again keeping a safe social distance…to show our appreciation for all they are doing during this pandemic.
Of course, the run could be accomplished on a treadmill while binge-watching yet another Netflix show, but this a great time to get outside and enjoy everything Mother Nature has to offer, even the bugs and wind.
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Lastly, the McCook Community Foundation Fund granted another $10,000 on Friday toward the McCook Stimulus Spending Program … or as it is better known, COVID Cash. There was such tremendous support from the community the first week that the funds ran out in less than four days, which left some people unable to benefit from the program.
But thanks to a quick turn-around by Acme Printing to create additional certificates, COVID Cash is back up and running this week.
With dedicated volunteers from McCook Christian Church, the COVID Cash certificates are available for purchase during the week from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. in the Norris Alley Office in the Keystone Business Center.
You can also follow the program on Facebook, where a complete list of businesses which are accepting the certificates can be found. The program is a great way to stretch those dollars since $100 is turned into $120 while supporting our local businesses.
And even if you don’t have COVID Cash, it is more important than ever to try and shop local during this crisis. Personally, I want as many local restaurants to choose from when this is over, even if all my pants are starting to shrink - or I’m putting on weight - the verdict is still out.
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.
