“Bring your ice cream to the gazebo”
By Tina L. Scott
Editor
On Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. the entire city of Merrill is invited to an ice-cream social time at Normal Park in Merrill.
It began with a simple idea. Last September, Andy Perry, Pastor of Bible Presbyterian Church and Chaplain for Merrill Aspirus Hospital, wanted to do something to bring his neighbors together.
“Everybody likes ice cream,” he said. He did. And his neighbors did. So he planned an evening and invited his neighbors. “And it worked!” he said. Folks in his eastside neighborhood brought a quart of their favorite ice cream to share, gathered on a Saturday evening, and new friendships were formed.
That led to Pastor Perry thinking even bigger. He said he began to wonder, “Why don’t we do this for the entire city? Normal Park would be the perfect location.”
“At a time when social media and politics are polarizing our society and driving people apart, what could be better than enjoying some ice cream and meeting some new friends to bring us together?”
“And that’s the simple goal: to share a quart of your favorite ice cream, meet someone new, and listen to their story. The resulting friendships could help bring our community together in lasting ways,” Perry said.
Perry is hoping lots of people will embrace the idea and come out for the evening. To participate, bring a pint or quart of your favorite ice cream and a lawn chair and come to Normal Park on Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Invite your friends and neighbors to join in. Bowls, spoons, cups, drinking water, and lawn games for kids will all be provided.