You have likely heard the maxim: It takes a village to raise a child. The meaning is that the whole community impacts and influences the growth of each child - both positively and negatively - through its support, encouragement, love, nurture and even discipline.

I would like you to consider a variation of that saying: It takes a community to build a hometown.  

The same is true for a hometown – all the residents impact and influence what kind of hometown we have and will have. Is our hometown all that you can imagine it to be?  

Are we supporting our hometown by participating in its planning and governance? Do we help plan and attend community activities? Do we volunteer among the many groups working to enhance our hometown? Do we take pride in our homes, businesses, neighborhoods and parks by making them attractive and safe for all?  

A few years ago, the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s advisory committee set up a couple “idea trees” to collect suggestions from residents on what could be enhanced or added to make McCook a better place to call home. I remember that two suggestions quickly outnumbered the many - a new city pool and a dog park.  

At that point, the city pool had been under discussion for many years, while the dog park was a relatively new idea. The amazing thing is that by writing them down on paper, actively talking about them among friends, and focusing new attention on them, they both became a reality. 

The same thing happened again when a group of people decided to make the expansion of the outdoor pickle-ball courts a priority. In a very short time, they provided the community with three beautiful courts on East 5^th Street.  

Most recently, there is a group of young people intent on bringing a second disc golf course that will allow more individuals to play and possibly open McCook to having tournaments. What an inspiration these folks are to all of us!

Jeff Yost, CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation, often relates: “Change – when it’s personal, it’s important; when it’s important, it gets done.”

Wherever you live, you are part of a community. Each of us is part of a hometown. And ultimately, it takes a whole community to make a hometown whole. 

Take a moment to answer these questions:

What would you personally like to see your hometown be?

What would you like for it to provide? 

What is personal to you? 

What is important to you that you are willing to work to get done? 

How would you like to get involved to make that happen?  

MCFF wants to hear ideas from everyone in the community. This is an invitation to let your voice be heard. 

Together, we can accomplish so much. I hope you will step forward and help keep building a hometown that is a better place to call home.

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Peggy Been is technically retired but is perhaps busier than ever, serving on MCFF’s Advisory Committee along with volunteering throughout the community.