Merle "Joe" Scharnhorst Fund for a Cleaner Quincy Area 

Merle “Joe” Scharnhorst was a man of faith, family, country, and community. A lifelong resident of Adams County, he gave back by serving his country and volunteering time to many local organizations. In his free time he took part in many recreational activities alongside his wife, Ruth. The two enjoyed bicycling together but were always in dismay at the amount of trash along the road.

Ruth established the Merle “Joe” Scharnhorst Fund for a Cleaner Quincy Area to honor her husband’s community pride and his desire to maintain a beautiful Quincy area. Because the fund is endowed, a legacy of love for the Quincy area will endure for generations.

Grants from the fund are intended to be used to support volunteer efforts to clean areas of West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, which may include equipment rental costs, supplies, and trash receptacles in public areas. Letters of interest for grants are encouraged, but not required, and may be submitted to the Community Foundation.