If you have a question about resources for someone in need, Barb Ostrum is the person you call. It doesn’t matter that she technically is now retired. She still has the connections. She still has the experience. She still has the passion to help others. 

Because of her continued desire to serve McCook and Southwest Nebraska, Barb Ostrum has been named the September 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month. 

Although Barb officially retired in 2019 from the Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska,, most people wouldn’t know that because she can still be found attending meetings, leading projects and helping with events. 

Barb has served as the President of the Child Advocacy Team for at least the past seven years, although there are rumors she may step down this year from that position. She operates Community Hospital’s Patient Assistance program, serves as a Salvation Army volunteers and sits on the McCook Housing board. 

She volunteers her time organizing the Backpack Giveaway and Resource Fair each fall and the visiting “Dental Van” program throughout the year. And for countless years, she lead the Toy Box give-away each holiday season before it came to an end a few years ago.

And even though it has been more than half a decade since she retired, Barb is the interim service representative for Community Action Partnership. 

The current community service coordinator for Community Action Partnership, Araceli Santos-Ayala said Barb continues to help others others and myself with her knowledge of where to find resources that we may not know of.

“Barb has been a tremendous asset to our community,” Araceli said. “Her genuine care and dedication have led to meaningful impacts because she shows up, she gives, and she makes a difference.”

The McCook Philanthropy Council recognizes a volunteer every month who is doing good work in McCook and Red Willow County. 

If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308-345-3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s 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. The volunteer honoree is selected monthly by the McCook Philanthropy Council.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.