By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview on our Kubota Podcast
Emergency relief funding continues to reach wildfire victims across western Nebraska as Mid Plains United Way responds to a growing number of fires and community needs.
Executive Director Kirsten Parker says funds raised locally are actively being distributed to help families cover immediate expenses. “We’ve been continuing to give out emergency funding which is really important,” Parker said. “Especially with new fires that have been popping up as well. So it’s really nice that we do have that money in there.”
Those funds are helping cover urgent needs like housing, clothing, and medications. Parker explained the goal is to relieve immediate stress so families can focus on securing larger assistance. “What is that thing that you need for immediately right now so that way you don’t go into that panic mode,” she said. “Take your time, do your paperwork correctly because that’s where the big dollars are gonna come in to help you.”
The relief fund also remains available for victims of newly reported fires across the state. “That’s what the fund is for,” Parker said, noting that needs can include hotel stays and other emergency expenses.
As part of the process, Mid Plains United Way carefully verifies each request to ensure funds are going to legitimate recipients. “We’ve had more scammers trying to get money than we’ve had people trying to actually get money,” Parker said. “It’s important to make sure that we know where every single dollar is going and it is going to a fire victim right here in western Nebraska.”
Beyond disaster response, Parker says her first months in the role have revealed broader challenges in the North Platte area, especially related to housing and food insecurity. “My eyes have been so closed,” she said. “I’ve been living in a bubble… not truly understanding what is going on here in North Platte.”
Mid Plains United Way raises funds and distributes them to partner agencies, allowing those organizations to respond quickly without the restrictions often tied to government grants. “Our job is to go out there and help raise money for them so when they need it, we can say here you go,” Parker said.
She added that flexibility is critical for agencies facing everyday operational needs. “So many grants have restrictions upon restriction,” Parker said. “This is going to be oh you need to pay your electric bill, here you go… you need to go buy copy paper… that’s really important to a lot of different agencies.”
The organization currently works with 12 partner agencies and tracks how funds are used to ensure accountability. Parker said that oversight is part of why United Way charges a small administrative fee. “We actually vet them, we follow up with them, we coach them,” she said. “If we didn’t have that, we could just be giving your money out to anybody.”
Another major focus is connecting individuals to resources through the 211 system. “Instead of calling 911 for an emergency you call 211 for resource assistance,” Parker said. “They’re trained for any kind of crisis… they’re gonna help you try to find what that next resource is.”
Parker also highlighted growing concerns about scams and the need for community education. “You’d be amazed how many people would come in and they’d be embarrassed because they fell for it,” she said. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed for—these scammers, they train for it.”
With North Platte Giving Day now underway, Parker is encouraging residents to contribute if they can. “One day, give what you can whether it’s five dollars whether it’s 500, it doesn’t matter,” she said.
For those unsure where to donate, she says United Way can help direct funds where they are needed most. “If you’re not sure, give it to United Way and we’ll do the research for you,” Parker said. “We’ll find out what is the need right here in North Platte and then we will make sure that we pass those dollars on.”