McCOOK, Neb. -- Everyone’s world has been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic but maybe none so more than our young people.
Students no longer have a regular school schedule and are not able to see their friends on a daily basis. They may not have access to regular meals. And they may have difficulty accessing the internet, now a necessity to complete their homework.
But McCook schools have been working to alleviate some of these issues with funding from McCook Community Foundation Fund’s new COVID-19 Response Account.
Over the past month, MCFF has provided three grants to McCook Public Schools to help with specific issues during this crisis.
Technology
With nearly all learning taking place online right now, the need for technology is greater than ever. And while the McCook High School students all have Chromebooks -- similar to a laptop -- individually assigned, the McCook Junior High and Central Elementary students either used the devices during school or checked the laptops out on an as-needed basis.
While some families have their own devices at home, many do not and that is where a grant from MCFF came into play. A $8,500 MCFF grant will help purchase 30 Chromebooks to be used by students at home.
“With E-Learning abruptly changing our instructional practices, our equity gap among our kids seemed to be magnified,” said Joel Bednar, Central Principal/Curriculum Director, McCook Public Schools. “We realized the need for more Chromebooks to distribute for E-Learning and to utilize within our classrooms when schools resumes.”
Bednar added, “We want all students to have the same access and learning opportunities. Using these devices will allow kids to see/hear their teachers and have the organized social interactions that is clearly needed during E-Learning days.”
Nutrition
While school is generally thought of a place for education, it also serves as a place where some kids may get their only complete meal of the day. And the demand is being met by the school’s nutrition program in unprecedented numbers.
According to McCook Public School Business Manger John Brazell, the McCook Junior High kitchen was designed to serve around 400 Jr/Sr high school students on a regular school day. “Currently, we are serving more than 700 breakfasts and 700 lunches per day in our drive up grab-n-go service,” Brazil said.
Preparing the increased number of meals has stretched the capacity of the kitchen and especially the storage of all of the prepared meals.
The McCook Community Foundation Fund has provided $17,500 in funding to purchase carts, which will provide additional storage and will allow the staff to roll them out to the delivery site at the junior high. The carts are designed to be used for either hot or cold foods and will maintain the temperature of the meals for longer.
“This will be extremely important as the daily temperatures rise as we move into spring and summer.,” Brazell. “And at this point, our plan is to continue the meal program through the end of June.”
Education for At-Risk Students
While all students are figuring out how to learn from home, alternative instruction methods are especially important for many of the school’s at-risk families, including those in the school’s credit-recovery program. These students are most at-risk of dropping out or failing to complete school due to a variety of reasons and need specialized help to graduate from McCook High School.
To help continue this program from the safety of the student’s own home, “site licenses” were purchased with the help of $3,000 grant from MCFF.
“On behalf of McCook Senior High School, I would like to thank the McCook Community Foundation Fund for their generosity during these challenging times,” McCook High School Principal Jeff Gross said. “We have several students taking advantage of earning credits via online classes. We are also anticipating the increased need for this service as we continue in these uncertain times in K-12 education.”
“It is a blessing, knowing that we have such great community support,” Gross said. “Thanks for MCFF’s leadership and dedication to our school system…”WE ARE ONE.”
The McCook Community Foundation Fund continues to accept grant applications as well as donations for the newly-established COVID-19 Response Account. More information is available online at mccookfoundation.org.
The regular spring grant deadline is Friday, May 1. Since 2003, more than $400,000 in grants have been provided to organizations and individuals, benefitting McCook and Southwest Nebraska. A complete list of grants is available on the MCFF website. MCFF is an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation.
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Getting Outside of National Night Out Nearly everyone can tell you their last interaction with the police or the fire department. And unfortunately because of the nature of the organizations, it is usually not at a positive moment. My last contact with the McCook Police Department was just a few weeks ago, when I was pulled over on B Street in McCook…on my scooter. I pulled into the wrong lane when making a turn, which is illegal. But in my defense, it was an act of self-defense to just get through the intersection of East B and Sixth streets alive. Since the drivers haven’t seen a stop-light since Holdrege, cars and semis regularly run the traffic light, which makes me a wee bit vulnerable as I pass through the lanes. I got off with a warning but the true punishment were the texts throughout the day from everyone who saw me with my scooter and the police officer. Since most exchanges with police and fire are not on good terms, National Night Out was created to have an evening of positive interactions, to remind the public that the police and fire departments are just normal people, doing their jobs, looking out for their friends and neighbors, trying to create a safe community for everyone. National Night Out is designed to simply join your friends and neighbors for an evening of fellowship and fun. It is an opportunity to meet local law enforcement, creating safer and more caring neighborhoods. McCook is joining thousands of other communities across the country in hosting National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August every year. Planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in and around Norris Park in McCook, the night includes a bike parade, a walk, awards for bike decorating, desserts and more. In other words, it is simply a block party to hang out. Numerous organizations have come together to make the evening possible. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the McCook Rotary Club are hosting a bike parade that starts at 6 p.m. Linda Maiden with State Farm, a bicycle helmet advocate, will also be in Norris Park. The streets around Norris Park will be shut down to provide a safe area to ride, as well as more space to cruise around the block. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bike, scooter, roller skates or anything on wheels. This could mean streamers, pompom balls, markers or even the old classic - playing cards in the spokes of your wheels. Some supplies will be available at the park for use if you show up and realize you are the most underdressed person at the party. If your bike has an inch of dust on it, this is a great time to get it out, wipe it off and get it rolling. And if your bike needs minimal fixes like a flat tire or a brake adjustment, bike tools will be on hand along with myself and my hubbie, who know just enough about bike repair to be dangerous but did manage a 300-plus mile bike ride last week so we must be doing something right. But let’s say you don’t have a bike or biking isn’t your cup of tea? Then you are still encouraged to join the “Walk in the Park,” hosted by Community Hospital. Designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle, walkers will stroll around the park and the neighborhood at whatever pace you feel like with strollers and dogs on leashes welcomed. And perhaps most importantly, there will be a chance to meet members of the McCook Police and Fire Department, getting to see police cars and fire engines close-up in a non-emergency manner, always the best way to see them. And if the weather cooperates, there may be a fire hose, water and spraying involved. If you have been at the Culbertson Fourth of July parade, you know it is up to you to stay out of the line of fire if you want to remain dry. We all have excuses for why we don’t want to go out at night, especially after a long day at work. But National Night Out in McCook on Aug. 5 is a great reason to get out your bicycle and lace up your walking shoes. Hang out with your friends, get to know your neighbors and meet your first responders. That is what makes our communities just a little bit better.
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month
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