When Marissa Ruff joined Merrick Community Services last summer as a parent educator in the At Home Family Education Program, she immediately felt what so many staff and families describe: the strength of the East Saint Paul community and the deep commitment Merrick brings to supporting families through every stage of life.
One of the first families she met was Briana’s. Their intake appointment happened to fall on Marissa’s birthday—a moment she still remembers fondly, not only because it marked her first official intake, but because she met Briana’s baby, who she endearingly calls “the cutest baby in the world.” That early connection set the tone for a relationship built on trust, consistency, and shared understanding.
Briana once shared with Marissa, “The biggest thing for me was that you guys stayed with me during my move to Minneapolis.” She had worried that relocating to Hennepin County—closer to her personal support system—meant losing access to Merrick’s services, something Marissa was determined to not let happen. This was crucial for Briana when life transitions were piling up: moving, pregnancy, and the daily responsibilities of raising a young child.
That consistency mattered. It meant Briana didn’t have to start over with new providers or navigate unfamiliar systems alone. It meant she had someone walking alongside her, not just during major milestones, but in the everyday moments that shape early parenting.
Through the program, Briana received additional funding and resources that helped ease the daily pressures of raising a child. Sometimes support looks like big things—but often, it’s the basics: diapers, wipes, baby food, stain remover, teethers, books, and again, more diapers and wipes. These essentials quietly lift the weight that many families carry alone.
But the impact goes beyond supplies. It’s in the moments that can’t be measured— encouragement, consistency, first steps, first words. One moment that stayed with Marissa was when Briana told her that her baby knows exactly who she is—not just as a provider, but as someone familiar. That recognition, that relationship, is the heart of Merrick’s work.
Because of donors, partners, and supporters, families like Briana’s aren’t navigating parenting alone. They are seen, supported, and strengthened through programs designed to meet them where they are.
Briana’s story is a reminder of why we do what we do.
