In 2025, Lanark County gave us a grant to help us operate the Saturday Café at MERA. With this grant we have been able to hire a café manager, Heather Vriends to keep things running smoothly. Her experience and qualifications in food service and her certification in food handling and her overall dedication to serving MERA are gold! This role freed up MERA volunteers to host the café, coordinate food and help with the children’s arts table. The Saturday Café ran from October through May, providing a great space to gather, connect and view our monthly art exhibits. A rural oasis in the midst of a cold climate!

Thank you to Lanark County council for supporting our community.

We are preparing for this Fall, and we welcome volunteers to host, bake or make soup.