It goes both ways.
On one side of the coin, citizens need to take the responsibility to get involved. They need to attend public meetings, even if it is three hours of budgets and spreadsheets. They need to belong to service organizations, which bring together a diverse group of people to better their community. They need to appreciate what is already in place, while working together to make it even better.
On the flip side, our leaders, both in the government and in community organizations, need to include others when making decisions or considering projects or determining what will happen 5, 10, 20 years from now.
That feeling of inclusion is important if a community is going to grow and thrive.
If we want our young people to feel like they are really part of the community, they need to be heard and their opinions respected. If we want new-comers to get involved, they need to be asked and feel valued. If we want our community to work together, we need to make sure everyone feels included and feels needed.
Ultimately, people want to have a say in what their community should look like and what their community needs. And that involves work.
The easy button for any government agency or community organization is to go it alone, to do it themselves, without asking for input or help or outside opinions. To some, an ideal world is where everyone pays their taxes and doesn’t ask for anything or who pays their dues but doesn’t get involved or even show up.
But that doesn’t lead to long-term growth or a deep attachment to a community or organization. People who have been asked to contribute and had a role in a decision being made are the ones who are going to work to make their community better.
In my ideal world, our parks are so full of giggling children and laughing parents that we have to replace the equipment every few years or even consider the development of more green space. Our downtown streets are so full of people out and about - walking, shopping and visiting - that the road is occasionally shut down to traffic. Our service organizations have so many active members that they have to take turns volunteering for community projects.
And we have city council meetings with people standing along the back wall waiting to be heard about the budget. We have school board meetings packed with residents there to celebrate the students’ accomplishments and ask questions about the curriculum.
According to a recent study from the Knight Foundation, people will fit in better if a city has incorporated community feedback. People want to feel included, like their voice has been heard and that their opinion matters.
Governments are used to a top-down approach without an emphasis on engagement. But the best project will involve a variety of people and a host of organizations with wide-ranging opinions and ideas who have come together to meet the needs or the community.
This has a ripple effect on the rest of the community from workforce development and youth engagement to development and resilience. If citizens feel like they have value within a community, they are more likely to be involved. They are more likely to donate their time and money. And they are more likely to give their support to a project or idea.
Research has shown that community-driven programs, along with welcoming spaces, foster higher levels of attachment and trust. It is not solely up to the government to create everything we want and need in a community, but those projects which are coordinated by the government agencies need to listen to their residents, they need to ask their opinions, they need to include them in the discussions as well as the decision.
Communities which take the step to include as many residents as possible will be stronger, will be more vibrant, and will continue to create a better quality of life for everyone. By making people feel included and needed, we will make McCook an even better place to call home.
Sara Rippen named February 2026 McCook Volunteer of the Month
Practicing Good Stewardship Takes Effort But Reaps Many Rewards
Bison Days brings high schoolers and community members to learn about job possibilities but also interests and hobbies in their hometown.
With little to snow on the ground in McCook, holiday lights help beat the drab and dreary season.
To kick off the new year, Jo Beebe has been selected as the January 2026 McCook Volunteer of the month. While many people might know Jo for her years at the Sports Shoppe, she can be found giving hours of her time to the community, especially at St. Patrick Church. Whether during the weekly Mass or for a funeral or wedding, Jo shares her beautiful voice from the choir loft, as well as leading the choir members. Jo, along with her husband Harold, also has served as the St. Pat’s GALA host couple in the past and continues to help with set-up and cleanup of the annual event. Jo is also active with the Fall Festival, the Rosary Rally and the Wild Game Feed in Curtis every year. She attends every the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults class and helps students prepare for confirmation. And since retiring from the Sports Shoppe, she is active in the Altar Society, and volunteers at the Bargain Bazaar thrift store. According to her nomination, “The way Jo gives of her time and talents to our parish and community is a reflection of her faith,” and the community and the church are better because of her generosity. The McCook Philanthropy Council selects the monthly recipient for the McCook Volunteer of the Month award as part of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s McCook Volunteer program. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308.340.3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the MCFF 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. Please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community.
Master Storyteller Will be Missed but Memories Remain
Maintaining the status quo or not doing anything may be cheaper initially but long-term, the costs are more.
Make 2026 memorable by getting involved and making an impact in your community.
As the year comes to a close, members of the MCFF Advisory Committee share "why" they do their community work.
