It’s grant season here at MERF, and though we’ve been busy amidst our internal transitions — welcoming new board members, spearheading fresh committees, and, well, my learning the ropes as the new executive director — we’ve still managed to participate in » Read More
Early on in my career as an archivist, I stumbled across the most fascinating deed I had ever laid eyes on. It was written in 1916 by one of Fort Payne’s earliest mayors, Charles M.T. Sawyer, and served to gift a » Read More
A Special Message from MERF Transitions are never easy. This is true in our personal lives, in our jobs, and in the lives of community organizations like MERF. We are lucky to live in a community with people of many professions » Read More
The Mentone Educational Resources Foundation (MERF) would like to welcome back all of our teachers, students, parents, and families for another school year. We also want to extend a special welcome to our new teachers and thank our returning educators for » Read More
Back in March, it was finally time to put a grant we received last summer from the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils into action. The plan was to transform the Valley Head School Memorial Courtyard into a pollinator garden and outdoor » Read More
The recent Tiger Art Gallery at VHS was a wonderful community event that brought together students, families, and staff to celebrate creativity and learning. Student artwork created throughout the year was proudly displayed, featuring a variety of media, including clay, watercolor, » Read More
Art is not a regularly offered class throughout DeKalb County — it’s a rarity. For over 30 years, MERF has worked to change that, providing arts education through the support of donations, grants, and community involvement. MERF is proud to have » Read More
Laughter, music, and joyful conversation are once again wafting from the windows of the MERF House. With renovations complete, the property has entered a new chapter that honors its nearly 30-year legacy while reimagining how it serves the community today. Since » Read More
Sometimes when you return to where you’re from, you end up receiving far more than you ever expected. One of the things I appreciate most about living here in Mentone is the quiet. The absence of big traffic and airplanes is » Read More
The 2026 Taste of the Mountain and Art Auction not only helped MERF meet its fundraising goal, but it did so in a way that left attendees lingering, laughing, and already anticipating next year’s gathering. The sold-out event at Camp Alpine » Read More