“Wait for your turn,” my mom would say when one of the family of five would be knocking on the door of the only bathroom we had.
“Your turn is next,” my sixth-grade teacher said as we stood inline at the water fountain.
The Army recruiter said, “your turn” at the draft board as the Vietnam war raged on.
Some 20-25 years ago, the concept of “your turn” surfaced as I was serving as president of the Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation and we were attempting to do a building remodeling project.
My task was to speak with several local organizations in the community and gather support for the project. Essentially, I was asking folks to follow in the footsteps of the past citizens who built Hillcrest and take their turn at making improvements.
A few years prior to that, I had written a short story about my daughter and thought it may help make my point about the circle of life and how we must be ready to take our turn to help when needed.
I share that story with you now as our area has multiple needs and the McCook Community Foundation Fund is here to help meet those needs:
“The White Teddy Bear”
The shadows of the tree outside the window blended into the hundreds of little rainbows on the wallpaper of her room. She had a lingering cold and it wasn’t often that she cried and wanted dad to hold her until she fell asleep.
Only four years old and she already changed his life forever. Her little arm clutched the next of her white teddy bear who fur was slightly smudged and was showing signs of thousands of hubs and much love.
In that quiet darkness, his thoughts returned to the times that had passed.
He remembered how he helped teach her to eat. How he lovingly secured her in her little highchair. How he cut her food into bite-sized pieces. He recalled the little spills and the drooling. He could still feel his steadying hand as he helped her learn how to walk. He recalled her call from the bathroom, “come wipe me.”
He kissed her forehead as a tear rolled off his cheek and was absorbed by the pillowcase as he watched her drift off to sleep.
The sun shone brightly through the venetian blinds.
He blinked his eyes.
She was now grown, standing beside his bed. She lowered the guardrail, cranked down his legs, placed one arm around his back and helped him sit up.
“The nurse brought your lunch dad,” she said. “I have already cut it up for you.”
She held the clear plastic water glass and placed the straw to his lips. Little pieces of Kleenex stuck to the gray stubble as she wiped the dribbles from his chin.
His eyes gazed across the room to the bathroom door. She moved the walker to the bed and held his elbow as he shuffled across the room. Moments later came the soft garbled call, “come wipe me.”
After she helped him back to bed, she said, “Dad, I brought you a surprise.”
From a brown grocery sack, she gently pulled a white teddy bear whose fur was slightly smudged and showed signs of thousands of hugs and much love.
She placed it in his thin frail arms and kissed his forehead. A tear rolled off her cheek and was absorbed by the pillowcase as she watched him drift off to sleep.
Life is a circle. Seasons come and go. Years roll by. The McCook Community Foundation Fund is here to help our community grow and prosper. To make that happen, we need your help in time, treasure and talent. Now is the time - it’s your turn.
Dennis Berry is a member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee, and serves his community in a variety of ways…even standing in the cold welcoming people to an event.
Jeremy Shaw named April 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
While the Bison Alumni Newsletter will still be available digitally, a new printed service is available.
During a recent performance at the Fox Theater by the Lied's Arts Across Nebraska, there was one group who was not thanked: those who showed up for the event, which is a big deal.
Mark Friehe named March McCook Volunteer of the Month.
Although the Bodensteiners no longer live in Southwest Nebraska, they are still connected and wanted to see if prosper and thrive.
From long-term projects to weekly events, you cannot say "there is nothing to do" or "nothing is happening."
With the goal of reaching 200 subscriptions, the Bison Alumni Newsletter is launching a subscription service.
Long-time volunteer Don Harpst was recognized as the first McCook Volunteer of the Month in March 2025.
McCook's youth survey shows that young people now value safety in their community, something McCook provides.
Building Connections in McCook Matters June in McCook will be abuzz with fun events including a Youth Summit, hosted by McCook Community Foundation Fund. Our young people in Youth Change Reaction will host the first Nebraska Community Foundation gathering for youth, which will bring youth from across Nebraska to McCook. While still in the planning stages, our students identified that McCook is great because of connections . Our young people easily recognize how critical this factor is to people attraction, to people retention, and to improve their futures. What I miss most about my high school classroom is connections with students and colleagues. In education, I taught first, second, and sometimes third generations in families. My husband, Greg, and I are not McCook natives, but I eventually knew who was related to whom and usually where the parent(s) were employed. Going to the grocery store meant greetings from students and sometimes their family members. I officially retired from my high school classroom nine years ago in May. When you retire, the most-asked question becomes “What do you do with your time?” I try to maintain those connections and make new ones by belonging. For the past seven years, Sharon Bohling and I have volunteered to help plan and organize Bison Days for our high school students, which took place February 10 and 11. It would not happen without the financial support of McCook Community Foundation Fund, plus the McCook High School, local businesses, and the talented people of Southwest Nebraska who say “yes” when one of us reaches out to ask for the donation of time and talent. I would venture that they allow us to be on the Bison Days’ committee because we both have connections within our community—it’s certainly not our computer savvy. Connections can also solve a problem. Recently, I signed up to help a local family in crisis. My morning plan revolved around delivering my donation at a designated drop-off place. That didn’t work out. Fortunately, I still work with youth in various capacities, so I know that Keri Wilkinson works for Camy Bradley. Keri was an organizer for the family fundraiser, so I walked in Camy’s office hoping to find Keri. She was not there, so Camy and I visited briefly. She knew someone (who I did not know) who could possibly give me further direction. Only in a town with connections are you able to interrupt someone’s business, have her reach out for you using her connections , and offer to keep the donations for me until Keri’s return. Another great example of connecting can be found over coffee. Dee Friehe and I are longtime teacher friends. During a chance meeting at the grocery store a few weeks ago, she shared how she was there following a funeral service and was gathering supplies to deliver supper to the grieving family that night. She also updated me on her group of adults who meet for coffee on Thursdays at Ember’s, which varies from 8-28 depending on the day. She recognized the need for adults moving to McCook or folks just wanting to get out to make connections . Dee’s husband, Mark, also hosts his own group of men who are new(er) to McCook. She regaled me with stories of their Christmas party and other special gatherings. Wanting to call McCook your home is solidified by building connections . Ronda Graff has written about McCook Connects which matches a McCook person with someone new to the community of similar interests. I earned my McCook Connects’ T-shirt welcoming a young family with children. We have since spent many hot summer days sitting on bleachers together cheering on our 4-H horse kids while they show their horses. Warning: I connected them with a “free” new-to-them horse. Be careful connecting with me or you’ll probably own a horse. You do not have to be retired to connect in this community. Volunteering is a surefire way to meet people. McCook has many civic groups looking for new faces. Attend a church here; we have many welcoming congregations. Go to ball games or school concerts, attend concerts in the park, learn a new skill through the college, show up at a Third Thursday event or invite the neighbors for a BBQ. Take your youngsters to story hour or Move and Groove at the library. Go watch an event at the Kiplinger Arena. You can even take it a step further: Make a friend or call a friend and invite him/her to go with you. It is human connection that keeps us healthy and happy. If McCook Community Foundation Fund can help you connect in some meaningful way, please reach out for advice or support. *** While Pam Wolford may be retired, she is just as busy serving on the McCook Community Foundation Fund committee and started a new Learn and Return Scholarship with MCFF, while stepping up to grandparent whenever the call comes in.
