Every day, we make choices.
We make the choice about what we will wear, what food we put into our bodies, what time we will get out of bed. For a couple of my kids, that is closer to lunch than to breakfast these days.
Many of these decisions are made without much thought, but right now we have the chance to be very intentional about those choices.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime to be very intentional and make lasting changes to our families, to our community, to our country and ultimately to our world.
As this crisis moves from weeks into months, there are a variety of ways to change your own personal world and create a “new normal.” You can be intentional about where you devote your energy. You can be intentional about who you spend your time with. And you can be intentional about where you spend your money.
The McCook Community Foundation Fund is hoping to provide incentive when it comes to where to spend your money with COVID Cash Certificates.
MCFF provided a $10,000 grant for McCook Christian Church to coordinate the McCook Stimulus Spending Program, which rolls out Monday.
It’s pretty simple. Volunteers from McCook Christian Church will man a table in an office located in the Keystone Business Center on Norris Ave. During the week from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m., anyone 18 and older can show up with cash or a credit card and purchase COVID Cash Certificates, a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $500. For every $100 you purchase, you receive an extra $20 in certificates. So you could leave with up to $600 in certificates which can then be spent at more than 100 businesses in the community. Hopefully, they are spent immediately, but they just be spent by Sept. 1, 2020.
It is a win-win. Consumers receive bonus funds from their hard-earned dollars while businesses receive a much-needed infusion of cash when those certificates are spent at their location.
This is especially important in the upcoming weeks as the federal stimulus checks start to arrive directly into checking accounts and into mailboxes.
The easy button would be to go online and shop, but then all those dollars are flowing out of our local economy. But at the end of the day, none of those dollars from those purchases will benefit your community aside from a few minutes the delivery driver spend dropping a package off at the front door.
When you spend locally, you are essentially making an investment in that business. You are making a conscious decision to re-invest in your community. And that investment will pay dividends down the road through employees who receive a paycheck and then go spend it at another store in town; through a restaurant serving dinner so you don’t have to the dishes; or through a hardware staying open so you buy a thingy-bob to finish the bathroom remolding project.
The McCook Stimulus Spending Program isn’t the only way to show your support for local businesses.
Continue to order out from local restaurants on Take-Out Tuesday. Buy gift cards through the McCook Chamber of Commerce’s Shop McCook Program at shopmccook.org.
And “Keep McCook Rolling Cruise Nights,” spearheaded by Wagner Auto Group, are planned for every Friday during April and May, offering ample opportunities to support businesses. I know my family ended up at three different restaurants and one store on McCook’s first cruise night two weeks ago, so we are doing our part to keep the economy going. Red Willow County Tourism is even planning Cruise Night Clues, so follow those on Facebook.
One of the most re-shared memes on social media is the fact that year-in, year-out, businesses are asked for donations toward sports programs, fund-raisers, field-trips…the list is endless. Now it’s our turn to show our support by intentionally patronizing these same businesses. Because if we don’t, they may not be here when this is over.
These entrepreneurs have taken a chance - and probably most of their life savings - to start these businesses. Now this is our opportunity to be very intentional toward our community.
Most likely, we aren't going to be good at something at the start. But that shouldn't stop us from trying.
August 2025 Volunteer of the Month Bruce McDowell can be found walking around McCook for his health, to be helpful or maybe even attend a meeting.
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
