Area restaurants partner with MAC Home to bring awareness to homelessness

Local restaurants are partnering with the MAC Home in Merrill to raise funds and awareness about homelessness in our area. On Nov. 1, 2024, the B’s Nest will be accepting donations for the MAC Home, and on Nov. 13, Los Mezcales will be accepting donations and will donate a percentage of their daily sales to MAC Home. The Center Grill, Northwoods Veterans Post, Club 64, and The Beacon are also making donations to MAC Home in recognition of Homeless Awareness Day and National Youth Homeless Awareness Month.
World Homeless Day is October 10, and this day is meant to acknowledge the experiences of people and families experiencing homelessness, unite to end homelessness, and raise awareness of the issue. National Youth Homeless Awareness Month is observed in the month of November; it is a time to acknowledge children and their families that are experiencing homelessness. There are 2.5 million children who are experiencing homelessness and are at risk of developing lifelong effects due to homelessness.
Children who are unsheltered are four times more likely to have asthma, go hungry twice as often as other children, and have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children.
MAC Home is working every day to help those experiencing homelessness. They provide a five-chair warming center for adults to use nightly, and their warming center offers shower and laundry facilities, a full kitchen to prepare meals, and a safe place to sleep for the night. The warming center is open from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. year-round.
The MAC Home also has a transitional living space for adults and children. The transitional living space has laundry facilities, two full bathrooms, a full kitchen, and four bedrooms to accommodate up to 12 people. Adults and children can stay in the transitional living area for up to 90 days while they work on obtaining independent living. Already in 2024 MAC Home has provided 1,138 safe nights of shelter to those experiencing homelessness.
MAC Home is proud to partner with B’s Nest, Los Mezcales, The Center Grill, Northwoods Veterans Post, Club 64, and The Beacon and encourages people to patronize these businesses to help support the MAC Home. Donations can also be sent directly to: MAC Home, PO Box 324, Merrill WI 54452.