MAPS accepts December donations

The following donations were approved and/or accepted at the Dec. 17, 2025, Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) Board of Education meeting:
The donation of a 2014 Ford Explorer from Breaman Merrill Ford valued at $3,000 for the Merrill High School (MHS) Automotive Program; the donation of funds from Laura Lussier-Lee and Eric Lee valued at $5,000 for use as needed at the Evjue School Forest; the following donations from Eric & Laura Lee to use as needed: Pine River School for Young Learners (PRSYL) $1,500, Kate Goodrich Elementary School (Kate Goodrich) $1,500, Washington Elementary School (Washington) $1,500, Prairie River Middle School (PRMS) $1,500, and MHS $1,500; funds from the Merrill Area Community Foundation Beyond Crayons & Computers valued at $2,000 for the PRMS Art Department and buying cameras; the following donations for supporting the PRMS Family & Consumer Science Program: cash and a commercial mixer from the Maine Lions valued at $750, a gift card from Kwik Trip valued at $500 for offsetting the cost of milk, butter, eggs, and bread, 14 pounds of ground beef from Geiss Meats valued at $111.86, six sets of dishes from Wally’s valued at $120, funding from the Merrill Area Community Foundation valued at $2,000, a check from the Berlin-Hamburg Lions valued at $1,000, a check from the Merrill Lions Club valued at $1,000, tables, stools, aprons, cutting boards, knives, and eggs from the David & Andrea Graveen Family valued at $600, pantry items and Walmart gift cards from the Whispering Pines Trailer Court valued at $350, a check from the Wisconsin Pork Association valued at $50, a check from the Wisconsin Beef Council valued at $150, a check and two sewing machines from Twisted Thread Quilters valued at $650, five aprons from Culvers valued at $100, a check from Church Mutual valued at $500, cash from Diana Behnke valued at $100, and, a gift card from Walmart valued at $75; money from Jay Tlusty valued at $100 for the MHS Bluejay Food Pantry; money from the Merrill City Band valued at $100 for the MHS Nest as part of the Backpack Project; money from anonymous donor valued at $20 for the MHS Santa Smiles/Holiday Happiness Project; money from the Optimist Club of Merrill valued at $2,000 for the MHS Feed the Jays; money from an anonymous donor valued at $25 to purchase gifts or books for students at PRSYL in memory of Joan Krohn; money from the Optimist Club of Merrill valued at $2,000 for the Kate Goodrich, Washington, PRMS, and MHS Bluejay Nests; funds from Kent & Sue Johnson valued at $50 for purchasing books to be sent home with students at PRSYL in memory of Joan Krohn; gift cards from Secret Santa valued at $2,000 for gifts to students in need at PRMS; knit stocking hats and fleece mittens from the Waupaca County Association for Home & Community Education valued at $100 for keeping students warm during recess at Kate Goodrich; gift cards from Secret Santa valued at $2,000 for Kate Goodrich to buy items for students (clothes, shoes, school supplies, food, etc.); gift cards from Secret Santa valued at $2,000 for providing opportunities to all students at Washington; funds from Casa Amigos Mexican Restaurant valued at $500 for paying off lunch accounts of Washington student; approximately 150 Woodrow TA4 architectural scale rulers from the Lincoln County Retired Teachers valued at approximately $1,200; free root beer floats and ice cream from Merrill A & W valued at $708 for incentives at PRMS for good attendance and behavior; and, gift cards from an anonymous donor valued at $1,500 for benefiting three families at PRMS during the holiday season.