November 2023

In This Issue of Merrick's Navigator

Thank You for Giving to the Max

About A-Team Minnesota

A Parent's Perspective on Disability Employment

Donor Wall Adds New Tile

Join Our Team

Upcoming Closed Dates

A Man of Many Goals | A Client Spotlight Story

Thursday, November 16, was Give to the Max Day. During those 24 hours, a gross amount of $5,621 was raised. That's a fantastic start to our year-end giving campaign and is a true testament to the generosity of our supporters.

If you participated in Minnesota's Giving Holiday and donated to Merrick, thank you for helping us fill the gap between the cost of services and government reimbursements. It's because of people like you that we can use the word "remarkable" when describing our life enrichment and employment programs.

Forgot About Give to the Max Day?

If you forgot about or missed out on Give to the Max Day, consider donating to Merrick's year-end campaign at www.merrickinc.org/donate. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated.

About A-Team Minnesota

On Wednesday, November 15, A-Team Minnesota held an informational meeting at Merrick for families of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. If you were unable to attend, we encourage you to learn more about A-Team MN at www.ateamminnesota.com.

In summary, A-Team Minnesota is an advocacy group whose mission is to support a full array of service options for people with I/DD. To stay informed about A-Team Minnesota's advocacy efforts, sign up for their monthly newsletter at www.ateamminnesota.com/get-involved.

If you missed the meeting and would like to receive the handouts, please contact Jim Clapper at j.s.clapper@comcast.net.

Photo Caption: Elizabeth Runge, Carlisle's daughter

A Parent's Perspective on Disability Employment

By Carlisle Ford Runge

Amy S.F. Lutz writes (November 8) from both experience and as a disability professional showing that elimination of the 14(c) wage paid to disabled workers is profoundly misguided. Minnesota considered and rejected such a course in its last legislative session, only narrowly avoiding an action spelling widespread unemployment and disenfranchisement for disabled workers like Lutz' son and my daughter Elizabeth, who has worked at a disabled employment center in St. Paul for over a decade.

To read the full version of the op-ed, please visit www.merrickinc.org/whats-new/a-parents-perspective/ or click the button below.

If you've visited Merrick in recent weeks, you may have noticed that several new tiles have been added to Merrick's Donor Wall in the foyer of our 3210 Labore Road site, some of which are an entirely new tile type. For those not familiar with Merrick's Donor Wall, up until last month the tiles on the donor wall included the following:

• 5" x 5" tile - $10,000 total giving

• 5" x 10" tile - $50,000 total giving

• 10" x 10" silver tile - $100,000 total giving

• 10" x 10" gold tile - $250,000 total giving

In November, we introduced a new tile type to represent donors whose total giving exceeds $25,000. The new tile is 5" x 5" and is onyx in color making it stand out from all the others. By adding this bold new tile, we aim to make sure that donors who make significant contributions to Merrick receive the acknowledgment they deserve and know how appreciated they are.

Do you know someone who has a passion for helping adults with disabilities achieve their goals? Consider encouraging them to apply for a job at Merrick. In addition to making a difference in others' lives, here are a few other reasons we think working at Merrick is amazing:

• Monday-Friday Only (No weekends)

• 7:00 am - 3:00 pm (No overnights or evenings)

• $3,000 Hiring Bonus

• Pay & PTO Matching for DSPs

• Competitive Pay

If you know someone interested in joining our team (perhaps even yourself), please encourage them to apply for a job today at www.merrickinc.org/careers. Any questions about job openings may be directed to Mikayla Wickersham at mikaylaw@merrickInc.org or (651) 789-6231.

The holiday season is just around the corner. In celebration of the holidays, Merrick, Inc., will be closed on the following days:

• Thursday, November 23, 2023

• Friday, November 24, 2023

• Monday, December 25, 2023

• Tuesday, December 26, 2023

• Monday, January 1, 2024

A complete list of all Merrick holidays may be viewed online at www.merrickinc.org/holiday-calendar.

A Man of Many Goals

A Client Spotlight Story

At one-tenth of a mile long and spacious enough for two wheelchairs to easily pass by each other, Merrick’s hallway is a common thoroughfare for clients. Some use it as an exercise route while others use it to practice using a walker or other mobility device. Few can say for certain that they could navigate the wide hallway blindfolded. Mike is one of those few. Only he does not have to wear a blindfold to prove it.

To read the complete version of Mike's story, visit https://merrickinc.org/client-spotlight/miked/ or click the button below.

Did you know that the average daily cost of support services at Merrick is $80.00 per client while the average government reimbursement is $75.00?

That means that every $5 donated to Merrick helps cover the cost of one day of support services. Depending on the client's program area, that one day of services may include transportation, community outings, music therapy, job coaching, and employment support. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

A $5 gap may not seem like much, but it adds up quickly considering that we serve nearly 400 clients. However, it's not insurmountable. In fact, you can help make a large dent in that gap today by making a financial contribution to Merrick.

How to Donate

The easiest way to give is through our online donation form. Alternatively, you may send checks or cash to Merrick, Inc., 3210 Labore Road, Vadnais Heights, MN 55110. If you want to designate Merrick, Inc., as the recipient of a grant from your donor-advised fund, please note that our tax ID is 41-0991279.