Category Archives: General Updates

SCRUB on April 15

The Merle Hay Neighborhood Association (MHNA) will once again partner with Des Moines Public Works to host the annual Spring Clean Up to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 15 in the parking lot behind the ramp on the north side of Merle Hay Mall. Please note the new location!

SCRUB allows Des Moines residents to discard unwanted items including furniture, televisions, appliances, tires, hazardous waste, and other materials for free.

This is a largely volunteer-driven event and MHNA welcomes your help. Volunteers primarily help answer questions and direct traffic.

If you would like to volunteer, please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c48aca82daafcce9-scrub#/

Yard and tree debris can be dropped off at the Des Moines Compost Site at 1601 Harriett St. For complete SCRUB program details, visit the Des Moines Public Works webpage at dsm.city/publicworks or call 283-4950.

MHNA Quarterly Meeting on April 20

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The Merle Hay Neighborhood Association will hold its next quarterly meeting at 6:30 pm. on Thursday, April 20, at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave. We’ll have neighborhood news, public safety updates, and more. We’ll announce more details as we firm up details. Please mark your calendar and invite your neighbors!

MHNA’s Annual Meeting on Jan. 19

Please join the Merle Hay Neighborhood Association for its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 19 at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave. We plan to be joined by Stephanie Murphy from the Neighborhood Finance Corp. to hear the latest about home lending opportunities (some forgivable!) in our neighborhood. We also hope to receive an update on the Merle Hay Corridor Study, and we’re working on having a neighborhood business join us to tell us a little about their business and answer questions.

We’ll also have public safety updates, President April Wyss’s annual report, neighborhood news, and officer and board elections. As always, we welcome ideas and
suggestions from residents and businesses on what we should focus on in 2023. Feedback may be submitted in advance by email to merlehayneighborhood@gmail.com
Please mark your calendars and invite your neighbors!

Help MHNA Keep the Kids Warm!

The Merle Hay Neighborhood Association is once again collecting new clothing donations for elementary school children through our Keep the Kids Warm program at the October quarterly meeting.

This year, we are collecting winter clothing for students at Hillis Elementary School. Donations of NEW coats, boots, stocking hats, gloves, snow pants and mittens are welcome. The following sizes are needed:

Coats & snow pants- (boys and girls): 6/6x, 7/8, 10/12, 16 or 18.
Boots (boys and girls): 1, 2, and 3, 4
Gloves (boys and girls): S, M, L & XL

We will also gladly accept monetary donations (checks made out to MHNA) and handle the shopping.

For more information about the clothing drive or to make a clothing or monetary donation, contact Kathy Battles by email at kmbattles@msn.com, or 515.865.3040. If you would like to drop your monetary or clothing donations at Kathy’s home, please feel free to do so. Her home address is 2729 62nd St., and she will also be happy to pick up things from your home for the kids at Hillis.

Please call ahead.

Our cut off time is November 14th so we can get them to the kids before Thanksgiving break.

Your help is greatly appreciated!