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At a recent McCook Rotary Club meeting, Travis Byers, director of the Crihstian’s Cause, spoke
about the lifejacket loan program available in Ogallala because of its proximity to Lake
McConaughy.
Started years ago in Lincoln after a drowning accident, the program is now based in Ogallala
with the mission of providing life jackets and education to the community. The purpose may be
to donate a life jacket to a family with small kids who are constantly out-growing their life-
jackets. It can be having life jackets available at the lake, so when a family shows up for a day
at the beach and forgot their life jacket at home, the day isn’t ruined. Simply borrow a life jacket
for the day and return it when leaving.
It sounds so simple but is an easy step to saving lives that could easily be duplicated in other
communities. New and used lifejackets are made available to those who need them, who might
take a chance of swimming or boating without a lifejacket due to cost or availability.
Special shout-out to Ron Tompkins for inviting Travis to speak at Rotary after the two struck up
a conversation during Travis’ stay at Ron’s motel, the Cedar Inn, and brought Travis to McCook
again.
While we don’t have a lifejacket loan program in McCook - yet, another sharing concept is
taking hold in our hometown.
The little lending libraries are springing up around the community. Build by individuals, book
clubs and one on the way by the McCook Rotary Club, the little boxes that look like bird houses
are home to a variety of books of all genres and for all ages. People can take books from the
little lending library or add to them. It is simple on purpose…to encourage people to share what
they have and to get people to read. It is a win-win situation.
As someone with a weakness for books, I know how hard it is to get rid of books, so this is a
great way to get books which still have many years of usability in them into the hand of others.
Another sharing project which is available is the bike loan program at Red Willow State
Recreational Area. Created by McCook Community Foundation Fund’s youth group, Youth
Change Reaction, anyone who is camping or just visiting the lake can take advantage of the
bikes available near the camp host at the Willow Campground.
The bikes have been donated over the years and fixed up by Tom Poore at Tinker Tom’s. There
all different sizes and styles to hopefully accommodate a wide range of riders. These bikes have
been collecting dust in a garage but still have a lot of life left in them. Some bikes are simply too
small and not needed anymore by a family but they know others could use them.
And bikes are always needed as they get worn out from use at the lake. Tom evaluates each
bike to make sure it is financially viable to rehabilitate a bike before putting it into rotation at the
lake, which makes the need for many donated bikes so important.
Speaking of loaning bikes, the National Night Out returns on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with McCook’s
event at Norris Park at 6 p.m. It is a great chance to meet McCook’s law enforcement and fire
fighters. The Rotary Club will be handing out popsicles, Community Hospital will host a walk/run
around the park and many other groups and organizations will be part of the evening.
Last year, I personally brought several of my own bikes for others to use during the event. As
avid cyclists, my family has an abundance of bicycles and I want every kid to have a fun,
enjoyable evening at the National Night Out.
Sharing resources is one of the best ways to get things accomplished and simply makes our
community better.
Early on in the swim season, I discovered that there was little to no seating available at the new
McCook Aquatic Center. Hopefully down the road, more benches and lounge chairs will be
purchased for the facility.
But in the meantime, I knew that I needed numerous benches to host an upcoming swim meet
at the facility. Organizers need benches or chairs to line up swimmers for their next event and
swimmers just need a place to rest, which isn’t the blazing hot cement.
Thankfully, Jeff Gross learned of the situation and metal benches from the football field across
the street were moved in time for the meet and have been in use the past month at the pool,
until they are needed again when football season resumes.
It was a great example of using the resources we have available for the greatest impact.
Similarly, I approached the city about opening up a few lanes and the lazy river for lap
swimming and water walking during our evening swim practices. The coaches were already at
the pool because of practice and we didn’t need all the lap lanes, so it only made sense to open
up the space to adults at the same time.
Word quickly spread and within a week, two or three dozen adults were strolling against (and
sometimes with) the current in the lazy river Monday through Thursday. And adult swimmers
took advantage of the lap lanes, many who hadn’t been able to swim laps since the indoor
YMCA pool closed at the end of February.
Rather than under-utilizing or letting something sit dormant, it benefits our community to work
together to use what we have at our finger tips, to let others use things that may just be
gathering dust in our garage or taking up space in our homes or not being used all the times at
our paces of work.
None of this is new to our community. McCook have two thriving church thrift stores plus an-
always busy Goodwill store because people want to share what they have, especially for a good
cause.
The little lending library and bike loan program are great examples of sharing our abundance to
make our community a little bit better. And if you have an idea of sharing what we have to make
life a little bit easier for others, reach out and we can help connect resources. By working
together to share what we have, we can make McCook and Southwest Nebraska an even better
place to call home.
