Even while working in a virtual environment, employees of Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. (a stock insurer)came together to lift up those less fortunate in their community this holiday season. With nearly all Merrill employees working from home, there could be no raffles or rallies this year, but the spirit of generosity endured.
The Christmas Is Committee traditionally raises funds at the Merrill Home Office through raffles and bake sales to support local nonprofit organizations. This year, in lieu of the usual in-office fundraisers, the committee pivoted to sell Christmas-themed shirts online.
The shirt sale raised $2,500 and provided donations to eight local community causes, including: After the Bell, Food for Kids, Merrill Area Community Enrichment Center, New Life Pet Adoption Center, Park City Garden Club, Pine Crest Nursing Home, Summer Lunch for Kids & Teens, and Tomahawk Senior Center.
CM CARES, the Church Mutual Insurance Company Foundation, contributed an additional $2,500, which was distributed to 10 more organizations, including: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northcentral Wisconsin, Community Food Pantry, Merrill Homeless Shelter, HAVEN, Kinship of Tomahawk, Lincoln County Humane Society, Northwoods Veterans Post, Our Sisters House, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and Meals on Wheels (Aging and Disability Resource Center).
“Our ‘Christmas Is’ campaign had a whole new feel in 2020, but the Church Mutual employees pulled it off again,” said committee member Beth Badeau. “They gave from their hearts again this year.”
In addition, Christmas Is challenged Church Mutual departments to raise funds for a cause of their choice. Examples of departments that rose to the challenge include Learning & Development donating $400 to the Food for Kids program and Property & Casualty Claims donating more than $700 to the Christmas Blessings – 2020 COVID Christmas Relief hosted by St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ.

1Church Mutual is a stock insurer whose policyholders are members of the parent mutual holding company formed on 1/1/20. S.I. = a stock insurer.