A Year in the Life of MERF

Rose Kennedy said, “Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.”

As 2024 draws to its end, MERF is looking at the many moments that occurred over this past year. Moments that helped us evolve as a nonprofit and improve our focus on the mission that started over 30 years ago. There have been moments that speak to the creativity and connections that happen in the many programs we provide. A grant enabled students in Ms. Cooper’s science class at Valley Head School to learn about constellations in the traveling “Star Lab.” And Marris and LuJean celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at a recent Senior Lunch, the entire room filled with song and merriment for them. We know “The Groundhog” is a trusted source of information and community connection in that moment when a subscriber who lives in Missouri came by the MERF tent at the Mentone Fall Festival and said, “Hey there, I love The Groundhog. Keep it up!!” And in the moment when a new mother walked the Pathway to Community with her young one in a stroller on a quiet, sunny afternoon, confirming that our mission “to enrich the learning and living in the community” is alive and well.

Our most pressing goal is to restore the former Shigley home (also known as the “MERF House”) to its youthful and useful splendor. We want meetings, reunions, clubs, and our Senior Lunches to return to this historic building. We want it to bustle again with songs and stories of days gone by. We want folks to be able to share time with others and enjoy one another’s company under the same roof once more.

Our annual fundraising letter is being prepared to go out to our many friends, volunteers, and contributors. We hope you’ll continue your support as you have in the past. We thank the many of you, individuals and businesses alike, who have shown your support to our seniors, to scholarships, to art education, and the MERF House renovation. We are a nonprofit, and your contributions are tax deductible and valuable for our continued success. As you reflect on your own year, we hope MERF provided you with at least one moment that made you feel a connection to your community. We wish you a peaceful end to the year, and we’ll see you in 2025.