McCOOK, Neb. -- In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the McCook Community Foundation Fund has established the COVID-19 Response Account in an effort to raise funds and make grants to local governmental and 501(c)(3) entities working to address the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the community, region, and vulnerable community members.
Additionally, the MCFF Advisory Committee approved allocating $25,000 from its 2020 spring grant cycle to start the account. The account will also be open to others in the community to make local, tax-deductible donations to focus on the response and recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A committee of local volunteers will determine how funds can best be distributed to support the work of community-based organizations. Grant-making possibilities include (but are not limited to):
-- To schools to assist with technology and other needs related to remote learning
-- To schools or food banks providing assistance to families whose children rely on school programs for meals
-- To 501(c)(3) public charities that are addressing the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations caused by lost work, closures, and cancellations related to COVID-19
-- To 501(c)(3) public charities that are addressing the immediate needs of vulnerable elderly populations who may be at high risk due to COVID-19
-- To 501(c)(3) or governmental healthcare organizations (including hospitals and public health districts) that are addressing increased demand for medical information and support, including mental health services
-- To 501(c)(3) public charities or governmental entities that are addressing fear and confusion about the outbreak among the community’s most vulnerable residents, including those with limited English language proficiency
-- To 501(c)(3) public charities to focus on community resilience as recovery from the outbreak proceeds
-- To 501(c)(3) public charities to help them maintain operations as other funding sources may decline
The MCFF Advisory Committee feels the new account meets its mission to connect and impact the community through intentional investment of time and financial resources.
“In keeping with our purpose, we are working to connect our actions with community needs,” said Cindy Huff, chairperson of MCFF, which operates as an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation.
“When challenges arise, our generous network of volunteers responds,” said Jeff Yost, president and CEO of Nebraska Community Foundation. “The qualities and values that make Nebraskans unique -- love of community and concern for our neighbors -- are precisely the principles that will help us navigate the chaos and fear that surround us. We are proud of and grateful to MCFF for their proactive actions in this unprecedented time.”
Funding priorities for the COVID-19 Response Account may change as the situation evolves and the community adapts. Grants from the account will be made only to 501(c)(3) public charities and governmental entities; this includes schools and churches. Grants will not be made to individuals or for-profit businesses.
Contributions may be made to the COVID-19 Response Account online through a link at mccookfoundation.org. Grant application forms are also available on the MCFF website and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
While grant funds have been directed toward the COVID-19 response, some funds remain for MCFF”s regular spring grant cycle, but the deadline has been pushed back from April 1 to May 1. Applications for both the COVID-19 Response Account and the MCFF grant program are available on the MCFF website or by contacting MCFF coordinator, Ronda Graff, 308-340-3412.
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Organizer for Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival and former librarian named Oct 2025 volunteer of the month.
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Long-time community advocate Barb Ostrum received the Sept 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month award.
We need to celebrate our young people while they are here and encourage them to return.
While some like myself appreciate a rainy day, others dread them for a variety of reasons. We need to be empathetic as interact with others.
MCFF Fall Grant Deadline is Oct. 1. Complete list of former recipients on MCFF website
With so much going, it is time for a “This, That and the Other Thing” column, where we will cover several topics, not very deeply but hopefully with a sense of humor as we clean up and prepare for a busy week in McCook. *** McCook again made state and national news this week for ice. This time, it was in the form of hail that pounded the community for hours upon hours. Conversations this week begin with “where were you….?” or “how many windows did you lose?” And while they may be legitimate and are offering their services, it is like vultures with all the roofing repair and dent removal businesses which have descended upon McCook following the storm. As city officials noted, do your due diligence with any company doing repairs for you and follow the old adage, which is old and still around because it’s true: If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. And one last note on the storm, we need to be careful what we ask for. As storm after storm approaches McCook and then splits in two to go around the town, we finally got one to roll right over us. The storm liked McCook so much it slowed down and just there. I was in Lincoln during the storm and trying to determine when I would drive home. I thought the weather app had frozen or the radar was broken because every time I looked, the storm was still sitting over McCook, doing its damage. I guess we can be thankful the next time a storm seemingly just goes around us. *** We are in the thick of McCook’s Heritage Days celebration. Congratulations to all the Heritage Days Royalty, which was announced at the MNB Bank Mixer this week. A special shout-out to Bill Donze, better known as Mr. Bill and his wife, Kathy, who were honored as royalty for their impact in McCook. As many know, Mr. Bill is fighting cancer and the prognosis isn’t good. The chances of him selling snow-cones and candy out of his van next summer near the McCook Aquatic Center are not good. One judge of his impact was the response to my column about Mr. Bill a few months ago. The post was shared thousands of times, viewed nearly 70,000 times with just as many comments by people sharing their fond memories of Mr. Bill. So when you see Mr. Bill riding down Norris in the convertible this weekend in the Heritage Days parade, send extra prayers and well-wishes to the man who has brought so much joy to so many kids - and adults too - over the years. *** Continuing on the Heritage Days theme, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the McCook Rotary Club is tossing all egos and formality out the window this weekend. As the president of the McCook Rotary Club, I invite everyone to at least watch, if not participate, in the Rotary’s first inflatable costume relay race on Saturday as part of the festivities in Norris Park. These are those giant, blow-up costumes you usually see around Halloween. The first costumes were usually T-Rexes but now there is everything imaginable available as a design. With the idea for the race originally conceived by Melanie Goodenberger, she has purchased everything from corn on the cob to a cowboy riding a chicken. This is a fund-raiser for the Rotary Club with a cost of just $20 for a team of four to participate in the relay race. But it is also a chance to giggle, perhaps make a fool of yourself and just have fun. Come to the park Saturday afternoon for the Wiener Dog races and stay for the Rotary Relay races. While the dogs will already be close to the ground, the relay race participants will likely just end up on the ground. *** With so much going on in McCook this week, I debated whether there should be another activity the next week but the response has already been great for the Lied’s Arts Across Nebraska’s next production in McCook. Hosted by the McCook Creative District, the Omaha Street Percussion ensemble will perform at the Fox Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 24. There is a matinee showing at 10:30 a.m. but I will be up-front…we are testing the capacity of the Fox with every seat already claimed with students. If that is the only show you can make, please come and we’ll find you a seat but it may be those up in the rafters. Otherwise, please plan to attend the 7 p.m. show on Sept. 24. And even better, there is no cost thanks to the Kimmel Foundation and the Friends of the Lied. This is a busy week and a busy weekend but this is a great opportunity to sit back and enjoy a fun, entertaining evening of live music.
Most likely, we aren't going to be good at something at the start. But that shouldn't stop us from trying.
