Long-Awaited Renovations Begin at the MERF House

This spring, as I watched my son play barefoot in puddles, hike muddy trails with wide eyes, and laugh with friends as they played in the rain (an ungodly amount this year and surely record-breaking), I was reminded of just how deeply rooted wonder and resilience are in this place. We’ve watched a tree fall during a storm, discovered a snapping turtle wandering through our yard, and even spotted a bear crossing the rocks outside our kitchen window — clearly not in search of water!

These moments, wild and real, have grounded me as a parent. They remind me that raising my son here allows him to grow in safety, freedom, and awe. His curiosity is shaped not by screens or schedules, but by nature — muddy, unpredictable, and full of life. This area, more than any parenting book or plan, allows me to be and grow into the kind of mom I always hoped I could be. And it lets him be a child, in the most natural, unfiltered state.

That’s why I’m so thrilled to share that something else close to my heart is getting the chance to grow again: the MERF House is being updated at last! After years of dreaming, planning, and hoping, MERF is proud to announce that renovations are officially underway on this cherished space.

Thanks to a generous $1,000 grant from the Poarch Creek Indians, along with support from the Alabama Historical Commission and private donations from both near and far, MERF is finally able to begin much-needed updates. Without this collective support, we simply couldn’t have started this undertaking, and we are so grateful.

Since opening in 1995, the MERF House has served as a vital hub for Mentone and Valley Head. It has always been a space of laughter, learning, and connection. Now it’s time to give that same care back to the house itself.

“This generous grant from the Poarch Creek Indians will help us preserve and enhance a space that means so much to our community,” said Kathryn Norris, board chair of MERF. “We’re incredibly grateful for their investment in the future of the MERF House.”

Local firm LeonardDesign is already gearing up. Carpets will be pulled, tools will be humming, and soon this well-loved space will begin to transform. The MERF House is set to become, once again, a centripetal force in our community: a place that brings people together and lifts them up. And most dear to my heart, it will remain a space where families, parents, and children come together in joy and community. In bringing new life to the MERF House, we honor the past, serve the present, and invest in the future of our community.