Foundation awarded Peter Kiewit Grant

Front, from left, Garnet Henton with McCook Pantry; Joann Barenberg, Ruth Ann Hackenkamp and Al Cuellar with McCook Educational Foundation; second row, McCook Community Foundation Fund committee members Leigh Ann Miller, Tom Buresh, and Crystal Evans; Marilyn Anderson with Community Supper and Warren Everts representing Share the Heat and McCook Educational Foundation. Third row, MCFF committee members Pat Marvin, Jan Korell, Don Harpst, Mark Graff; back row Cheri Beckenhour, Gavin Harsh, Doug Skiles, MCFF Coordinator Lindsay Foster, and Dale Dueland. (Courtesy photo)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Community Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation, has been awarded the Peter Kiewit Grant for emergency needs in the amount of $12,000. The MCFF has distributed those funds to:

McCook Educational Foundation -- Food for Kids BackPack Program -- $4,000 -- Each weekend qualified children receive a pack of food to sustain them through the weekend. Each pack of food costs $4 and there are currently 48 students each week that receive these packs of food. This grant will be used to purchase the food packs which come from Food Bank for the Heartland out of Omaha.

McCook Pantry Inc. -- $2,000 -- The pantry continues to see an increase in need each year. In 2011, the number of people served was up 16.5% reaching a total of 10,106 people. The pantry allows one visit per month. The grant dollars will be used to purchase food items.

Share the Heat Program - $2,000 -- Those seeking assistance with their heating bills often turn to or are directed to the Share the Heat Program. In 2011 this program did not duplicate recipients and helped 26 families. The end of the year was very tight and although they were able to help all that qualified; only a portion of the bill was paid for many. The grant dollars will be used to pay heating bills for qualified recipients.

United Methodist Church of McCook for the Feeding His Flock Community Supper Program - $2,000 -- This organization serves a hot meal every Thursday night to anyone who wants to attend. In 2011 they served 5,637 meals, averaging 117.5 people served each week. This number was up from 109 meals per week in 2010. The grant dollars will be used to purchase food items for the supper.

Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Services - $2,000 -- The grant funds distributed to this organization will be used specifically for emergency shelter and housing needs. Those seeking assistance will be knowledgeable of these funds through Barb Ostrum, community outreach coordinator at Community Action Partnership of Mid-Ne and Donna Goad, director of Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Services.