Author: Megan Kuneli

Golf Scramble Registration Now Open

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 2023 Bowl-A-Thon | Register Today

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

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

2022 Empower! Lunch Picture Gallery

Posted November 2, 2022

Photo Credit: Steve Kjelland Photography

Event Program
Table Setting
About Merrick Display
Check-In
John Barker & Jack Stahlmann
Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad
Dessert
John Wayne & Mary Barker
Welcome Table
Fran & Greg Knothe
Karen DeYoung & Guests
Maguire Agency
Matt Clysdale & Jim Rathburn
Greeting Guests
Warners' Stellian
Techie Dudes' Table
Kowalski's Markets' Table
Bob & Mary Ann DeYoung's Table
Jack Stahlmann & Matt Clysdale
Stephanie Mann's Table
Lenny & Dede Gavic's Table
Karen DeYoung's Table
Mary Barker's Table
John Wayne Barker's Table
Jamey Austad's Table
Karen Herrera's Table
Karen Herrera
Matt Clysdale of Maguire Agency
John Wayne Barker
Venue
Stephanie Mann
Twin Cities Sound

Executive Director Celebrates DSPs

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

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

Posted June 9, 2022

Photo Credit: Steve Kjelland Photography

01A   Royal Credit Union 1
01A   Royal Credit Union 1 w/clients
01B   Royal Credit Union 2
01B   Royal Credit Union 2 w/clients
02A   Lake Area Bank
02A   Lake Area Bank w/clients
02B   Steen
02B   Steen w/clients
03AB   Warners' Stellian
03AB   Warners' Stellian w/clients
04A   Cashe Software
04A   Cashe Software w/clients
04B   North American Banking Co
04B   North American Banking Co w/clients
05A   SevenHills Cleveland
05A   SevenHills Cleveland w/clients
05B   Total Mechanical Srvcs
05B   Total Mechanical Srvcs w/clients
06A   Maguire Agency
06A   Maguire Agency w/clients
06B   Austad
06B   Austad w/clients
07A   Murphy 1
07A   Murphy 1 w/clients
07B   Murphy 2
07B   Murphy 2 w/clients
08A   Wallace & Versatile Vehicles
08A   Wallace & Versatile Vehicles w/clients
08B   Hough & Marzitelli
08B   Hough & Marzitelli w/clients
09A   Koch NationaLease
09A   Koch NationaLease w/clients
09B   Interstate
09B   Interstate w/clients
10A   Northview Dental
10A   Northview Dental w/clients
10B   Mahre
10B   Mahre w/clients
11A   Greenbaum
11A   Greenbaum w/clients
11B   Sanfilippo
11B   Sanfilippo w/clients
12A   Frandsen Bank & Trust
12B   Brausen Repair
13A   Ferlic Filter
13A   Ferlic Filter w/clients
13B   HSCL
13B   HSCL w/clients
14A   Lindenmeyr Munroe
14A   Lindenmeyr Munroe w/clients
14B   Redpath & Co
14B   Redpath & Co w/clients
15A   Hallgren Clapper
15A   Hallgren Clapper w/clients
15B   Blue Sky Vitamin
15B   Blue Sky Vitamin w/clients
16A   Attorneys Title
16A   Attorneys Title w/clients
16B   Loffler w/clients
16B   Loffler w/clients
17A   Triple Crown Gaming
17A   Triple Crown Gaming w/clients
17B   Twin Cities Metro CDC
17B   Twin Cities Metro CDC w/clients
18A   Hauck
18A   Hauck w/clients
18B   Traudt
18B   Traudt
Turn   Trenary
Turn   Trenary w/clients
Bob & Jim

Report to the Community 2021

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.