Celebrating the holidays in Merrill

A group of middle school students from St. Francis Xavier Catholic School came to Pine Crest to perform a live nativity for the residents.

Beckie and Brandon Kleinschmidt host a Christmas party for family and friends each December. This year's party was held Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. "We usually do some kind of gift exchange or game but this year decided to ask for food donations for the food pantry," Beckie said. "In addition, people could bring items or baskets to be raffled off."."The monies collected would go to the food pantry and to Food For Kids. This turned out better than any of us could have expected," she said. "We had 30 guests and raised a total of $1,450 and 87 pounds of food!".The Kleinschmidts donated the food items and $650 to the Merrill Community Food Pantry and $800 to Food For Kids.

The center tree started out bare and unlit at the beginning of the program, but by its conclusion was beautifully decorated by the children with meaningful ornaments and lit with white lights and red lights forming a cross in the center.

Christmas programs at area schools helped Merrill-area families and friends get into the holiday spirit and many, like this program by St. John Lutheran School students, focused on the reason for the season.