The Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce has announced six finalists for this year's Grinch of Maryville.
This is the annual fundraiser for area non profit organizations where voting starts November 2nd.
The winner is determined by who receives the most money in the containers that are placed at the Maryville Walmart.
The Grinch receives all the money that is collected and they will lead the downtown Maryville Christmas parade.
News release from the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce:
The Grinch of Maryville is an annual fundraiser for local nonprofit organizations, sponsored by the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce. After nonprofits nominate individuals to represent them in the contest, finalists are selected to compete in a community vote where each vote costs one dollar. The candidate with the most votes (or most dollars) receives all the money collected, is named the Grinch of Maryville, and leads the Downtown Christmas Parade.
The 2026 Grinch finalists include Dr. Jeff Gardner of 760 Elks, Julie Godsey of Maryville Rotary, Lauren Lynch of Life Unlimited, Krista Shelton of Lettuce Dream, Heather Swymeler of Access II, Kelly Quinlin of Willie’s Legacy, and Dave Weichinger of Second Harvest Food Bank.
Dr. Garner is a member of the Maryville Elks Club and representing the club in this contest. The Elks support a variety of community events, including sponsoring the annual Hoop Shoot and supporting Santa Cops. Dr. Gardner is the owner of Gardner Family Dentistry in Maryville.
Julie Godsey is the current Rotary president. Through her leadership the club has supported many community efforts including a $5,000 grant for the new pedestrian alleyway, scholarships for local youth, and donations to the Senior and Ministry Centers. Julie actively supports other groups’ service efforts and helps with endeavors such as community food drives and Special Olympics.
Lauren Lynch has dedicated more than 14 years to serving individuals with disabilities through Life Unlimited. As a CVS Specialist, she works tirelessly to connect people with the resources, benefits, and supports needed to live more independently. She also leads the Maryville People's First group, empowering individuals to find their voice, build connections, and become active members of their community.
Krista Shelton is the current president and long time supporter of the Lettuce Dream Board. She is a strong believer in creating opportunities for people with disabilities and their value as contributing members of the community. Krista is the owner of Focused Forensic Solutions and volunteers her time to support many community events and organizations in addition to Lettuce Dream.
Heather Swymeler is the CEO of Access II. She is dedicated to providing services to the elderly and people with disabilities so they may live as independently as possible in their rural communities. Heather’s leadership was instrumental in Access II’s recent expansion to the Maryville community.
Kelly Quinlin is a co-founder of Willie’s Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to provide financial assistance to individuals battling cancer in Northwest Missouri. Willie’s Legacy tries to alleviate some of the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, while also offering compassion and hope. Kelly is also a board certified athletic trainer and volunteers her time for multiple community boards and events.
Dave Weichinger is the Maryville contact/coordinator for Second Harvest Food Bank. For going on 19 years, he’s been instrumental in providing community meals on Wednesday evenings. Dave plans, coordinates workers, orders supplies, and secures donations to cook over 300 meals. These are delivered in Maryville and surrounding communities, as well as served to those who come to the FUMC.
Grinch voting will be at Walmart between November 2 and noon November 30th. For more information, contact the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce at chamber@maryvillechamber.com or 660.582.8643.
