Fill the Gazebo Food Drive 2025

This year’s Fill the Gazebo Food Drive event will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 9-11 a.m. in the Gazebo at Normal Park. The community is invited to participate to help support the Merrill area food pantries by donating non-perishable food items, along with other new personal hygiene, cleaning, and paper products, which will be divided between the three area food pantries—the Merrill Area Community Food Pantry, Trinity Lutheran Church’s Open Hearts Food Pantry, and New Testament Church’s His Hands Extended Food Pantry, and the Food For Kids program. Stop at the Gazebo the morning of June 14 to drop off your donations.
Organizers say this year particular needs include breakfast foods (cereals, breakfast bars, etc.), boxed meals, and soups; however, they will happily accept any unexpired non-perishable food items and other needed products.
Cash or check donations are also appreciated. Please make checks payable to “St. Stephens UCC” with “Fill the Gazebo” in the memo line. Checks may be brought to the Gazebo on June 14 during the event or mailed to St. Stephens UCC, 903 E. Second St., Merrill WI 54452. All monetary donations will also be divided between the four area programs.
The Fill the Gazebo Food Drive started in 2013, replacing the previous CROP Hunger Walk. While the CROP Hunger Walk kept just 25% of the proceeds in the local community, Fill the Gazebo entirely benefits the Merrill community, as every donation and every dollar stays local.
Organizers are hoping this year’s Fill the Gazebo Food Drive will have a great turnout and “continue Merrill’s tradition of providing for the needs of our neighbors.”
For questions, email FillTheGazebo@gmail.com.