As the Seasons Shift, So Do We: MERF Readies for a New Chapter

As the first hints of fall touch the trees and Mentone trades summer haze for crisp mornings, there’s a familiar shift in the air. This change in seasons often brings a slower rhythm, a moment to pause and reset. At MERF, we feel that too. Fall kicks off a new pace for us — a return to routine, to purpose, and to the MERF House.

Our little house has seen many seasons and many hands. And while much has changed over the past 30 years, our mission hasn’t: to enrich all lives through education, community, and opportunity. The world moves quickly. People come and go, and life often feels more fragmented. But MERF remains rooted and steady, continuing to fill the spaces where connection and support are needed.

This year, we’re once again partnering with Valley Head School to offer meaningful enrichment opportunities. We’ve helped fund trips like SeaLab at Dauphin Island and look forward to returning to the ropes course at Camp DeSoto. For younger students, we’re working to expand arts programming in the elementary school.

MERF is dedicated to enriching all lives through education, community, and opportunity.

And of course, we’re bringing back one of our favorite community traditions: Senior Lunches. It’s simple, but it means a lot — a shared meal that brings people together. My 2-year-old especially loves entertaining the room by enthusiastically banging on the piano. (He’s working on his stage presence.)

Beyond the fun, MERF continues to provide grants for teachers, support music and theater performances, and offer scholarships to graduating seniors. These programs may seem small on their own, but together they create momentum. They open doors, spark ideas, and build connections — one effort at a time.

Mentone has always had a way of giving back, of showing up where it’s needed. MERF has been lucky to be one of those spaces. So this fall, we’re leaning back into the work, grounded in the belief that every act of support creates a ripple effect.

Whether you donate, volunteer, or simply show up: thank you! You’re helping us do what we’ve always done — serve our community and grow with it, season after season.

Katie Hand is executive director of MERF. For more information, visit MERFhouse.org, email merf.mentone@gmail.com, or call 256-979-4962.