Fill the Gazebo is a huge community wide food drive, huge enough for donations to fill the gazebo at Normal Park in just three hours. The fourth annual Fill the Gazebo Food Drive will be held Saturday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Normal Park Gazebo.
Last year, an amazing 4,173 pounds of food was collected, along with over $3,700 in monetary donations.
Nonperishable food items and toiletries will be accepted to benefit Merrill’s food pantries and Food for Kids. The rain site for the event is Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 300 Logan St., across from the Middle School.
A group collection may be made or individuals may drop off their donations that day. Monetary donations are welcome; make checks payable to Merrill Food Pantry. From there, the donations are divided equally between Merrill’s three food pantries. Food for Kids especially welcomes monetary donations as items needed for their program are very specific.