Megan Kuneli – Merrick, Inc.

28th Annual Charity Golf Scramble - Register Today

Golf Scramble Registration Now Open

Written by Megan Kuneli on March 17, 2023. Posted in Fundraising Events, What's New.

Published March 17, 2023

Registration is now open for Merrick’s 28th Annual Charity Golf Scramble. Presented by Royal Credit Union, the event will take place on Monday, June 5, 2023, at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, WI, and you’re invited!

Golfer and sponsor registration and payment may be submitted online at www.merrickinc.org/golf. Please note that golfer registration will remain open until all golfer slots are filled so don’t wait to book your spot. If you plan to attend the event but intend to submit payment at a later date, please contact Megan Kuneli at 651.789.6207 or megank@merrickinc.org to save your spot. We ask that payment be submitted no later than May 1.

All proceeds will benefit Merrick, Inc., in its mission to empower adults with disabilities by providing employment and life enrichment services.

Merrick's Bowl-A-Thon April 23, 2023 8:30-11:30 am Flaherty's Arden Bowl

Merrick’s 2023 Bowl-A-Thon | Register Today

Written by Megan Kuneli on February 13, 2023. Posted in Fundraising Events, What's New.

Published February 13, 2023

Registration for Merrick’s 2023 Bowl-A-Thon on Sunday, April 23, is now open. Considered our “most fun fundraiser,” the Bowl-A-Thon is a client-focused and family-friendly event that welcomes all ages and bowling abilities to Flaherty’s Arden Bowl for three hours of non-stop fun. Registration costs $100 per bowler and includes two hours of bowling, donuts, door prizes, and pizza. Sponsorships ranging from $100 to $1,000 are also available for purchase for individuals interested in making a larger impact.

The $100 bowler registration fee can be raised through pledges from family and friends. To collect online pledges, bowlers may create their own fundraising webpage. Pledge envelopes will be available upon request starting March 1.

To register as a bowler or sponsor, please visit www.merrickinc.org/bowl or contact Megan Kuneli at megank@merrickinc.org or 651.789.6207.

2023 Updated Policies & Procedures

Written by Megan Kuneli on February 2, 2023. Posted in Policy Updates.

Published February 2, 2022

On January 27, 2023, Merrick implemented several policy and procedure changes that impact service delivery. These changes include the following:

Client Service Rights have been updated to include two new rights and some wording changes;
The entire policy document was updated to reflect the name change from DHS of the CSSP to SP and CSSPA to SPA;
The Admissions Policy was changed to add wording of what documentation we need for clients to meet admission criteria and there was new information added about clients who require supplemental oxygen; and
The Guiding Principles Document was updated to reflect the addition of new services of VRS, IHS, and PSS.

PDFs of Merrick’s updated Program Policies and Procedures and Client Service Rights documents can be accessed by clicking the links below.

2023 Program Policies & Procedures
2023 Client Service Rights

Navigator Issue 48

Written by Megan Kuneli on January 18, 2023. Posted in Merrick Navigator, What's New.

Published January 18, 2023

In the latest issue of Merrick, Inc.’s e-newsletter Navigator,

New Year, New Programs
The New Old Fashioned Way
Celebrating Merrick Milestones
The Most Fun Fundraiser
and more!

Navigator Issue 48

Not subscribed to Navigator? Join our email list today.

Program Abuse Prevention Plan – 1239 WLB

Written by Megan Kuneli on December 30, 2022. Posted in Policy Updates.

Published December 30, 2022

On December 14, 2022, the Merrick, Inc., Board of Trustees approved a Program Abuse Prevention Plan (PAPP) for our 1239 Willow Lake Boulevard program site located in Vadnais Heights. To view the document in its entirety, you may download it as a PDF using the following link.

Program Abuse Prevention Plan (PAPP) – 1239 WLB

2022 Empower! Lunch Picture Gallery

Written by Megan Kuneli on November 2, 2022. Posted in Photos.

Posted November 2, 2022

Photo Credit: Steve Kjelland Photography

Executive Director Celebrates DSPs

Written by Megan Kuneli on September 12, 2022. Posted in videos.

Published September 12, 2022

It’s Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week! DSPs are the heart and soul of supports for people with disabilities, and we could not do what we do without them. Moreover, to help us kick off the week, here’s a message from Merrick, Inc., Executive Director John Wayne Barker.

Lastly, be sure to follow Merrick on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MerrickInc/ to see how we’re celebrating our DSPs this week.

Vadnais Heights City Council Honors DSPs

Written by Megan Kuneli on September 7, 2022. Posted in What's New.

Published September 7, 2022

During last night’s city council meeting, Vadnais Heights Mayor Heidi Gunderson proclaimed the week of September 11-17, 2022, as Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week. In attendance were Merrick DSPs Tess Bruhn, Dan Lind, Donna Tate, and Jenn Wold as well as Executive Director John Wayne Barker who gladly welcomed the city’s gesture of appreciation.

DSPs are essential to our work of empowering adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, they rarely receive the thanks they deserve. Hence, why DSP Recognition Week is so important and why we celebrate it each year. DSPs are the heart and soul of supports for people with disabilities. They are the primary providers of community-based long-term support services for thousands of individuals with disabilities in Minnesota. In other words, Merrick could not do what we do without them. Thus, they deserve our gratitude.

Starting Monday, September 12, follow Merrick on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MerrickInc/ to help us celebrate our DSPs.

For more ideas regarding how you can celebrate DSPs, visit https://www.ancor.org/2022-direct-support-professional-recognition-week.

Read the proclamation for yourself by clicking here.

Donna Tate, Tess Bruhn, Mayor Heidi Gunderson, and Jenn Wold pose with the proclamation inside city hall.

John Wayne Barker, Donna Tate, Jenn Wold, Dan Lind, and Tess Bruhn pose with the proclamation outside city hall.

2022 Charity Golf Scramble Picture Gallery

Written by Megan Kuneli on June 9, 2022. Posted in Photos.

Posted June 9, 2022

Photo Credit: Steve Kjelland Photography

08A Wallace & Versatile Vehicles w/clients

Report to the Community 2021

Written by Megan Kuneli on March 10, 2022. Posted in What's New.

Published March 10, 2022

Merrick, Inc.’s 2020-21 Report to the Community is now available! The Report to the Community provides readers with an inside look into Merrick, Inc., over the past year. Moreover, it showcases how your support positively impacts the lives of nearly 400 adults with disabilities served by Merrick. For those interested, the PDF version of the report may be downloaded here. If you prefer a hard copy of the report, feel free to drop by our main office in Vadnais Heights to pick one up. Alternatively, you may contact Megan at (651) 789-6207 or megank@merrickinc.org to have one sent to your home.

Report-to-the-Community-2021

Author: Megan Kuneli