Merrill Area United Way
Debbie Moellendorf, Executive Director
With the arrival of summer, people are excited to get out and enjoy summer activities. Families may want to treat their family to activities and events but may find it difficult to fit the costs into their family budget. Housing costs (mortgage or rent); rising utility costs; childcare; increases in food, gas and other everyday expenses have a significant impact on a family’s budget.
Thankfully, there are many low cost, no-cost options for summer activities in our area. These include exploring Merrill’s numerous parks and playgrounds; hiking the River Bend Trail or Prairie Trail; fishing our area’s lakes and rivers; reading a book; or playing disc golf, pickle ball or hoops. In addition to books, did you know that T.B. Scott Library has fishing poles, pickle ball and disc golf equipment, birding kits and much more available to use at no cost. Visit T.B. Scott Library to learn more about all the items they have available.
United Way would encourage families to investigate programs offered by our partner agencies during the summer months. Boys and Girls Club-Merrill, Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Northcentral Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin – Merrill Family Resource Center, Girl Scouts Council of Northwestern Great Lakes and Samoset Council, Scouting America are a few. There is a kid’s summer lunch program offered FREE for kids and teens. The lunch is served on weekdays at Christ United Methodist Church. When you support United Way, you are helping to make all these programs available to help area families engage in summer activities within their family budget.
One way you can support United Way, and our partner agencies, is to purchase a ticket for our 2025 Cash Raffle. Tickets are $20 each or 3 for $50. Eight cash prizes will be given out with the top prize being $2,500. You can purchase tickets from any of the United Way Board members, current and former Executive Directors, or from the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce. The raffle drawing will be held at the Eagle’s Stand on the Merrill Fairgrounds at 3 p.m. on Labor Day, September 1st.
Summer will be busy at the United Way working with our partner agencies to receive their required mid-year reports. This effort, along with the annual agency visits in June and July by our United Way Board of Directors members, allows for a better understanding of the activity level and challenges our partner agencies may be facing. Also on our summer agenda is the annual financial review, conducted by Gassner Company. Along with all of that we will be developing the fall campaign which will kick off in September right after Labor Day.
From advancing healthy community, youth opportunity, and financial security to strengthening local resiliency, United Way mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. Donations are accepted year-round and can be mailed to Merrill Area United Way, P O Box 813, Merrill, WI 54452. Dollars stay local! For more information about Merrill Area United Way visit: merrillareaunitedway.org or email director@merrillareaunitedway.org .