Big Give groups serve youth, elderly

McCOOK, Neb. — While it can be hard to categorize some of the non-profit organizations involved in the Southwest Nebraska Big Give, many focus on young and older community members. And all of them are seeking donations during the Big Give on Thursday, Nov. 7.

In the second of four stories about the Big Give non-profits, the following groups have a fairly specific focus on both ends of the age groups.

With a priority for our senior citizens, the Cambridge Senior Center and Curtis Area Senior Center are both working to meet the needs of the elderly in their respective communities.

The Cambridge Community Daycare Foundation has joined Big Give for the first time this year, highlighting the need for affordable and good childcare.

Also joining for the first time the Cambridge School Foundation, to meet the needs of the Trojan students.

TeamMates connects young people with older mentors and has been part of the Big Give for several years. McCook, Cambridge and Maywood all have TeamMates chapters and seek donations to keep their programs growing.

Over the years, one of the most successful Big Give participants has been St. Patrick Elementary School in McCook, which serves the area for preschool through eighth grade.

The Discovery Center, otherwise known as Breakaway, hopes to open its physical location in McCook soon to serve the community's young people.

Well-known in the community, the Boys Scouts of America-Mid-America Council and the McCook Legion Baseball Boosters are raising funds to support their individual entities. Both focus on helping young people reach their full potential.

The Family Resource Center, which has been with the Big Give since its start in 2016, helps meet the needs of youth and families throughout the area.

While donors can give funds throughout the year, the Southwest Nebraska Big Give is impactful because generous sponsors provide matching dollars. Platinum and gold sponsors include Graff Charitable Foundation, MNB Bank, Community Hospital, and First Interstate Bank. A complete list of sponsors will be available on the Big Give website, swnebiggive.org.

The Southwest Nebraska Big Give is coordinated by Community Chest, which is a sub-account of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation.