Merrick Employees Spread Holiday Cheer
Published March 3, 2025
In 2021, Lynn Lomen took the lead on Merrick’s Vadnais Heights (VH) Holiday Adopt-A-Family Initiative, where employees adopt families from Vadnais Heights Elementary School during the holiday season and provide gifts to help brighten their celebrations. Here’s what Lynn had to say when asked a few questions about the initiative and its importance.
What prompted you to take the lead on this initiative?
I started working at Merrick in 2015. The VH Holiday Adopt-A Family Initiative, lead by Judy Vollbrecht, had been going on for quite some time by then (I believe that it started in 2009). The core group that helped her each year brought such dedication to making the holidays wonderful for the VH families that were entrusted to them from the VH Elementary School. I was eager to get involved and excited to participate with them. When Judy retired in 2021, Ruth Barrett and I wanted to make sure that the initiative continued.
Why is it important to you that this initiative continue?
I think it is important to continue to sponsor the families every year because we are blessed with so much, and we want to share that with families that may not have as much as we do. It also gives employees of Merrick the opportunity to work together and build meaningful relationships. This initiative gives anyone the chance to donate money if they choose, spend time doing something for someone in need and share the joy of the season with their co-workers.
What is the best part about your role as the lead on this initiative?
The best part about my role is that I get to share in the laughter, shopping, music, treats and excitement with my co-workers. When the shoppers go out to fulfill the wishes of the families, they come back so happy to show other shoppers their bargains. Then, when we get together to wrap all the treasures, everyone is so excited and amazed at how beautiful the packages look. Many shoppers and/or wrappers have said that they wish they could be a fly on the wall when the families get their gifts, that just to see their faces would be amazing.
How has Merrick/Merrick employees supported you in your role as the lead?
Merrick and employees have supported this initiative by generously donating their own money to be able to purchase the gifts. Merrick has a match of up to $400.00 to help make it possible to fill out the wish lists of each family member. Charitable Gambling employees also get involved in donating for the presents, and Wendy Busch (CG) always contributes a check to each family for their Holiday meal or whatever is needed. We are also supported by those that come to help with the wrapping and making such beautiful “Towers” for each member of the families. Last year, we had so many helpers that it only took about an hour to get the wrapping done; that was amazing.
Why do you believe that it is important for Merrick to take action that contributes to the common good?
We have a core belief at Merrick about Civic Responsibility. Many of the employees have such compassion for not only our clients and each other, but they care a great deal for the families that VH Elementary sends us. The holiday season can be hard not only financially but also emotionally; I notice that so many of our employees want to participate in making the holidays wonderful for others. I believe that they want to participate in making the lives of complete strangers better and this makes their holiday season better. We have amazing people that work for Merrick; their hearts are so giving to other staff as well as to our clients. I feel so lucky to be part of a company that has such beautiful people working for it.