Merom Wish List

First Church UCC Clay City (led by Jack Long) just finished grading and seeding the Northeast lawn for a multipurpose athletic field. Eric Steiner has pledges money to help pay the fuel costs and equipment to line the field for soccer boundaries and goal boxes. See pictures and video here.

Apparently defibrillators are on their way to becoming standard equipment everywhere. Case in point amazon.com now sells one - The Philips HeartStart Home Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available from Amazon for $1,185.00. I heard a news report this morning (May 31,st, 2006) that schools in Illinois are now putting them in all their schools. It is not something that can be paid for out of our operating budget so if anyone out there wants to give a lifesaving gift to Merom let us know.

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We need door openers for three of our "handicap accessible doors." The dining room, the West entrance of College Hall and most importantly the new ramp to the chapel. These cost approximately $1,200 a piece. This would be a fantastic donation to make in honor of someone you know that has accessibility issues. For example, no one will ever forget the generosity of St. Paul UCC in Holland Indiana when they donated the funds to put in an elevator in College Hall because one of their members recalled Irene Bartlelt once saying, "I'd love to visit Merom again, but I can't do those stairs."

Mellot Community Bible Church has pledged up to $3,000 towards this wish!!!

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$$$$ - Merom's budget was approximately $25,000 in the red in 2005. The deficit can be attributed to lower than expected numbers for Nature's Classroom (budget cuts in education) , Summer camp numbers were down by 5% and the purchase of much needed walk-in cooler and freezer. We were able to cover the deficit with a bequest from the estate of Dr. Bloemker. We can not cover another deficit in 2006. Things are looking better for 2006 for Nature's Classroom, we will not have another large purchase like the walk-ins in 2006 (although storm clean up may still be a major cost depending on insurance coverage), and we have cut back on summer staff - but we need your support to make sure Merom is well in the black for 2006!!

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A new Sponsor for Platt Cabin -

We ask that you send a crew in the spring as camp approaches to give your cabin a good spring cleaning; Occasionally paint the interior and exterior as needed; and we may contact for other projects as needed.

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Warming Cabinet for the Kitchen -

Retails for $2732 - Used from an auction would be fine or we might get a better price from our purchasing service.

This is used to keep trays of food warm while we are waiting to serve large groups.

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New tile floor for Kitchen - This is not possible with our current budget. A group that could purchase the tiles and install it for us would be great!!!

Approximately $??

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$$ for quilts - The Quilters of St. Mark UCC in Terre Haute are making quilts for the double beds in College Hall for the incredible price of only $30 each. So far we've purchased 3 quilts out of our general budget. Proceeds from the sale goes to meet St. Mark's Our Churches Wider Mission pledge which, of course, helps to support Merom. Its a win win deal. You can make it a win win win deal by buying quilts for us!!!

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Nature Books for Nature's Classroom (used items?)

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School Bus or vans for transportation (used item from a former bus driver?)

Jeff Wilson has offered to donate his school bus when the school corporation that he drives for makes him retire it. Jeff is a mechanic and has kept it in A-1 condition but the school district has a mandatory retirement age for busses. He's even offered to paint it for us!!!!

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25 Lights to illuminate the front drive, parking, and the sign at the end of the drive (see below). This is a major problem when we have evening programs. Especially with our elderly visitors.

Update for September 2006

Ted Schory will be ordained on October 1st at St. John UCC in Center Point and the offering will go towards this project plus an additional anonymous donation. We are expecting approximately $1,000 to $1,500 from this offering plus Jack Gettinger has pledge on light for every tree his family purchased during the original fundraising for the trees 13 years ago. Jack will pay for 6 lights.

Also - Judy Olinger from Salem UCC in Huntingburg has offered to use her professional discount as a landscape architect to get us the lights for a mere $152 each. We originally were asking for donations of $208 for each light. Thanks Judy for all you research and effort to get us the best price!!

We need donation for between 8 and 10 more lights in trees plus the lighting of the entrance sign and side walks.

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New white flat sheets and pillow cases (sheets $12 per set - need 50 sets)

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Computers (running Windows 2000 or better) (Is your company replacing their old ones?)

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Canoe trailer (used from a canoe livery?)

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Electric Golf Cart (used from your favorite golf course?)

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Workers to help rake leaves, paint, build, plumb, raise funds, volunteer counsel etc. etc.

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New seating for the Chapel ($40 each - need 150 = $6,000)

Wishes that have come true

Folks from St. John in Sunman built us a ramp into the chapel!!!

Pictures

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Kurt Hesse sent us a nice computer. Pentium 3 with a fast clock. We can always use another computer so anyone else have a good computer running windows XP we'll make it available to our guests for internet surfing and checking email.

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David Duncan brought us about 80 National Geographic BOOKs on various topics (National parks, mammals, birds, countries, etc.) for Nature's classroom and for all of our guests to enjoy.

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Eric Steiner sent us a check for Soccer Goals!!! They are up and in August First Church UCC from Clay City will be grading the Northeast lawn for a a multiuse field - Soccer, softball, football, etc.

Pictures

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Pickup truck

Thanks to Jeff Buente we now have a new truck as well as a dryer, a couple couches, a couple lamps, some printers, etc.

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Fred and Marylyn Robberts donated their old van in August. Coincidentally our other van just lost its transmission and with 330,000 miles on it its not worth fixing anymore. A just-in-time donation from the Robberts!!!

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WIFI Illiana will be mounting a web cam on the tower soon. We've been running the electricity and WIFI Illiana will be reimbursing us for our expenses and then mounting the camera.

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The Buente's also donated various sound equipment in August. Now we'll have equipment in every major meeting space on the site. No more moving equipment and risking damage every time its moved.

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The Jim Kathi, Cheyenne, Chris and Richard Elliott donated the money to purchase new carpet for the entrance by the elevator in College Hall. We also received a nice offering from the IKC Women who met here the first of October and we're purchasing supplies to fix up the main entrance and carpeting the alter area in the chapel. All places that need some attention and dressing up!!! We got a very good deal on the carpet and tile from Pieper's Carpet in Bicknell Indiana. Ask for Leroy.

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Alta Linnenburger from St. Mark UCC in Terre Haute will be staying here at the end of October and designing banners for the chapel. All we need now are the new seating and the chapel will be finished.

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October 28th - Jane and Rodney Kalb of Trinity UCC in Jasper donated $1,000 worth of couches, chairs and miscellaneous household furniture (including a well used pool table - perfect for camp!!)

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The purchases of a Commercial Grade Carpet Cleaner and Vacuum were authorized by the Merom Governing Board on October 29th out of the Bloemker funds. It was felt that, with the purchase of new carpet from other generous donors that we should purchase the tools to keep them nice as soon as possible.

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Rev. Bev Kahle brought us a used computer on October 29th donated by Robert Paugh of Zion UCC (Troy Avenue). We could still use a couple more as we work towards making email and internet access available to our guests.

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New opportunity to give to Merom's ministries

We'll set up a Merom email address for you for a donation of $100

joe@merom.org -or- jill@merom.org -or- sally@merom.org -etc.

Contact me at dale for more information