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Quarterly Meeting + Annual Soup Supper on Oct. 15

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The Merle Hay Neighborhood Association invites you to our annual soup supper and quarterly meeting on Thursday, October 15, at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave. Enjoy soup and time with neighbors starting at 6:00 p.m., followed by the membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. Connect with fellow residents, hear about what’s happening in the community, and help support a stronger neighborhood. Door prizes will be awarded, with additional prize opportunities for those who renew their membership at the event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Help MHNA Keep the Kids Warm

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

This year, we are collecting winter clothing for students at Hillis Elementary School. Donations of NEW boots and gloves are welcome, or you can donate money and we’ll buy the needed items.  Donations can be dropped off at Kathy Battles’ home, or she can pick them up. Checks can be mailed to MHNA at P.O. Box 13241in Des Moines, 50310. Please make checks out to MHNA  along with a note that says it is for Keep the Kids Warm. Donations can also be made via PayPal to merlehayneighborhood@gmail.com. If you donate using PayPal, please consider adding a little extra to cover the service fee.

The following sizes and winter wear ONLY are needed:

  • Pull-on, not laced boots (boys and girls): Sizes 1, 2, and 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 
  • Waterproof Gloves (boys and girls): Sizes S, M, L & XL

Our cutoff time is Friday, November 13, so we can get items to the kids before Thanksgiving break.

Your help is greatly appreciated! If you have questions or would like more information about donating, please contact Kathy Battles on her cell at (515) 865-3040, or by email at kmbattles@msn.com.

Quarterly Meeting on April 16

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MHNA’s next quarterly meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave. We expect to be joined by Polk County Treasurer Mary Wells, Troy Bothwell from Neighborhood Finance Corporation, and Chuck Montgomery from A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy, also known as AMOS.

Our quarterly neighborhood business spotlight will feature Jolene Christensen with O’Donnell ACE Hardware on Hickman Road. We also expect to receive a Des Moines Parks and Recreation update from Mike Bahl.

Please join us and invite your neighbors!

2026 Annual Meeting on Jan. 15

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The Merle Hay Neighborhood Association will hold its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, at the Northwest Community Center, located at 5110 Franklin Ave. We will have our annual report, neighborhood news, public safety updates, Des Moines Parks & Recreation news, refreshments, and more. We also expect to receive an update from Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity on a project in the neighborhood. The meeting will conclude with the election of officers and board members for 2025. Please save the date and invite your neighbors!

REMINDER: MHNA meets on the third Thursday in January, April, July, and October at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave. Unless otherwise noted, the meetings start at 6:30 p.m. Our October gathering includes our annual supper, which starts at 6 p.m., followed by the membership meeting at 6:30. MHNA’s 2025 meetings will be held on January 15, April 16, July 16, and October 15. Please save the dates! Our ability to send out paper newsletters depends on annual revenue and grant support, which varies from year to year.