Every member of my family is a swimmer, some by choice, some by default. Our bathrooms at home can attest to that fact, with drawers devoted to goggles and swim caps and shelves crowded with beach towels and swim shampoo.

All of my kids plus my husband and I are or have been lifeguards. The McCook YMCA pool has served many purposes over the years from swim lessons to swim teams to hours of recreational swim. The swimming pool is our second home.

Personally, I have another reason I value the pool at the Y: I use it whenever I have writer’s block or just to think through things. It provides the opportunity to swim back and forth in the lap lane with nothing else but my thoughts. During that time, I can come up with ideas for a column and work through a roadblock on a story. Or I can mull over an issue with a group I’m involved in or a problem bedeviling the community.

By the time I pull myself onto the edge of the pool, I’ve most likely made progress on whatever issue was weighing on my mind when I dove into the water. It’s my way of removing all other distractions and focusing on the task at hand.

Now this is a fairly specific example, but it’s my way of showing how important the YMCA is personally to me and my family. We can’t imagine McCook without the YMCA and all that it offers. 

And the same can be said of many of the organizations which are taking part in the 8th annual Southwest Nebraska Big Give. Our communities cannot be as good as they can be without these non-profit organizations operating day-in, day-out.

By the time you read this, one of three things will have happened involving the Southwest Nebraska Big Give. The one-day of giving will have started and you have given your donation or plan to later today. The Big Give is nearly over but you haven’t made a contribution so you should stop reading this and go make a donation. Or the Big Give is over and you didn’t make a donation. 

But just because you didn’t give during the Southwest Nebraska Big Give doesn’t mean you can’t continue to support these organizations. 

All of them will gladly and eagerly take a financial donation anytime of the year. There is just extra emphasis on donating during the Big Give because generous sponsors have provided matching funds to be used on the one-day of giving.

Some of these organizations benefit from other kinds of donations, such as dog food and kitty litter at the McCook Humane Society or diapers at the ABC Pregnancy Help Center. Just check with your favorite organization and see what they are in need of on a daily basis.

And every single one of the organizations involved in the Southwest Nebraska Big Give can use more volunteers. They need volunteers to serve on their boards, volunteers to help with events, volunteers to work at their facilities. The list of needs is long and varied but always constant.

The Southwest Nebraska Big Give website, swnebiggive.org, is a great place to learn more about each of the organizations taking part in the event, so you can determine which group to support financially. But the website is also a great source for contact information and to reach out about getting involved. 

Another great source is McCook Volunteers, which can be found on the McCook Community Foundation Fund website, mccookfoundation.org. Dozens of organizations - with more added regularly - are listed with their needs and their contact information. 

Take advantage of the Big Give to show your financial support for these organizations which keep our communities going. But use the rest of the year to get involved in these organizations and help keep our communities thriving.