MACR donates to Parkside Preschool

On July 18, 2024, Z’s Fork Horners Bar and Grill owner Gina Van Der Geest, on behalf of Merrill Area Community Rides Charity (MACR), presented a $1,202 check to Parkside Preschool.
The donation was made possible by MACR’s annual Mud ‘N Jams ATV/UTV Ride and Poker Run, hosted by Z’s Fork Horners Bar and Grill, on June 15.
“I am proud to be a part of this amazing fundraiser each year, by hosting the event,” Van Der Geest said. “We are all excited to see the success it will bring in the future for our community.”
“We are so appreciative of the Merrill Area Community Rides Charity for holding a fundraiser in support of Parkside Preschool Centers’ operational expenses,” said Koelsch-Burge. “We were joyfully overwhelmed by the many businesses in our Merrill community that donated to the fundraiser. While our teachers and students made thank you cards for all of the donors, I want to further extend a personal note of gratitude to Z’s Fork Horners Restaurant for hosting the Mud ‘N Jams event, Half Stack Alice for completely donating their time and talent to play at the event, 107 Bait Shop, Breaman Family, Casa Amigos, Chips, Culver’s, Cup and Cone, Dairy Queen, Designer Salon and Day Spa, Images, Kaminski Farms, Los Mezcales, NAPA, O’Reillys, Pine Ridge Family Restaurant, 365 Power Sports, Take 5, The Grand Stand, Vibe Nutrition, and Westside Market.”
“We have been diligently seeking community support to help keep our stand-alone, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, state licensed, preschool-based group child care facility in operation,” she said. “Parents need affordable child care in order to work outside of the home. If Parkside was not in operation, there could be negative implications for the workforce of the Merrill community. While we are sensitive to the effect the current economy already has on the households of the families that attend our facility, we must primarily rely on tuition increases in order to keep our doors open when we can’t obtain outside support funding. We recognize that there is a limit to the amount of money a family can afford to pay for child care before they must make the decision to have one parent quit their employment to stay home with the children.”