First McCook Volunteer of the Month Honored - Don Harpst
Most volunteers don’t serve their community for the recognition. They don’t do the work for the
glory. And they don’t give of their time for a pat on the back.
But that doesn’t mean that the time and effort that volunteers give should not be recognized.
The McCook Philanthropy Council has created a new program to recognize a volunteer: the
McCook Volunteer of the Month.
Made up of eight local non-profits, the Philanthropy Council works together to promote an
environment of giving. While their primary focus is on financial giving, the Philanthropy Council
also recognizes that donations of time and expertise are just as important to a growing and
thriving community.
To kick of the new program, the McCook Philanthropy Council selected Don Harpst as the first
recipient of the McCook Volunteer of the Month award.
Don has given of his times for decade upon decade. Ironically, on the day he was selected for
this award, he formally resigned as a volunteer at Hillcrest Nursing Home, where he not only
volunteered but also served as the director for many years. The flowering gardens on the east
end of the facility even bear his name.
Don can also be found at the monthly McCook Community Foundation Fund meetings, which he
served on for several terms, resigned before returning for a second term. Now, he attends the
meetings to offer sage and meaningful advice.
Yet others may know Don for his dance skills, often leading dance lessons in the community. As
he glides across the floor, he can turn nearly anyone with two left feet into a Fred Astaire or
Ginger Rogers.
Don has also given untold hours to community theater, whether it is acting, singing and dancing
or as the director for many productions over the years.
And perhaps he is most easily recognizable when he puts on his top hat and long red scarf to
embody Mr. Scrooge. While it has been several years since he portrayed the old curmudgeon
on stage, Don breaks out the costume at least one a year to deliver candy throughout downtown
McCook during the holidays.
The McCook Philanthropy Council felt there was no one better to kick of the new volunteer
recognition program that to honor Don Harpst, who at 90 years old still puts in countless hours
to give back to the community.
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
but please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the
community.
