McCook Community Foundation Fund Name is part of a nearly $1.2 million statewide effort to bridge the learning gap in the face of Covid-19.
Using funds from MCFF’s Covid-19 Response Account along with matching grants from the Nebraska Community Foundation, McCook Public Schools and St. Patrick Elementary School will receive more than $40,000 in funds.
McCook Public Schools has received a $34,000 grant to hire staff to assist students who are at a greater disadvantage because of the pandemic. St. Pat’s received $7,170 to purchase additional technology for the elementary school.
With these additional funds, MPS will add at least one staff member to help those students who have previously struggled in school and are at the biggest disadvantage when things change.
Grant funds will be used to hire staff who would be responsible for reaching out to those students who have been identified as being at a higher risk of falling further behind academically, according to McCook High School principal Jeff Gross.
“The staff would be responsible for ensuring that these students have everything they need to be successful, from coordinating additional educational assistance to simply checking in with the student,” Gross said. “Specifically, this position would work closely with the parents of the affect students, either in person or via Zoom technology.“
This staff would also work closely with the teachers of the at-risk students to determine how to best help the affected students. If staff time and finances allow, the staff would also address mental health issues as part of the education plan.
At St. Pat’s, grant funds will be used to purchase additional iPads, supplementing the current supply so that students in grades 5-8 have greater access.
St. Patrick Principal Becky Redl said that providing more iPads will allow students and teachers to work on learning the skills necessary to become successful in the virtual education world.
Funding for the Bridging the Learning Gap program was available exclusively to affiliated funds of Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) including MCFF, which provided the 1:1 local match.
McCook’s matching funds came from MCFF’s COVID 19 Response Account as well as a $10,000 anonymous donation toward the account.
NCF’s Bridging the Learning Gap initiative was capitalized by an anonymous donor and the Alice DeVoe Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of NCF.
Grants were approved and allocated by a committee of six volunteer NCF affiliated fund leaders who have educational expertise, including teachers, administrators and school board members. All applications received funding. Importantly, learning gap needs were identified locally by school leadership, as were proposed solutions.
“We are deeply proud of the way the NCF network of affiliated funds came together to meet this need,” said Jeff Yost, president and CEO of Nebraska Community Foundation. “We are so grateful to the visionary donors who are supporting this important work and to the local leaders and educators who are rolling up their sleeves to ensure our kids receive the educational experiences they deserve, even in the midst of a global crisis.”
These grants are the second round of funds to address issues related to education during the pandemic.
In May, McCook Public Schools received $40,000 as part of NCF’s Bridging the Homework Gap with $20,000 from MCFF’s COVID account. The grant was used to purchase additional Chromebooks in the McCook Junior High and Central Elementary with the goal of reaching 1-to-1 technology to students. Funds were also available to purchase internet “hotspots,” for those students who don’t have reliable internet service at home.
St. Patrick’s also received $4,000 in May to expand the amount of technology available at the elementary school.
Since the creation of MCFF’s COVID-19 account in March, more than $120,000 in grants have been distributed into the community. When combined with the $37,600 from the NCF matching grants, nearly $160,000 has been provided in the community to help students, address housing issues and provide economic development.
A complete list of grants from MCFF’s COVID account is available online at mccookfoundation.org.
It takes work and effort to be social but its vital to our community.
McCook's young people are shaping their hometown through a various projects.
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.
With the McCook Aquatic Center closing soon for the season, another tradition - Mr. Bill and his 25-cent snow-cones - will likely be coming to an end soon too.
McCook among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program
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
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
Sharing our resources, such as books and bikes and even benches, help our community better for everyone.
For many years, McCook did just enough to get by but now there is a flurry of activity - with much more possible - which we should be celebrating.
