🌱 Mobile's Homeless Receive Holiday Meals + Blood Donors Needed

Good morning, Mobile! Your usual curator, Sammi, is off today, but I am here to fill in and keep you up-to-date on all of your local happenings. Now, here's what you need to know, in 5 minutes or less. — Nicole Fallon-Peek

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First, today's weather:

Areas of fog in the morning. High: 72 Low: 66.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Mobile today:

1. The Waterfront Rescue Mission in Mobile welcomed local residents "home" for the holidays by serving thousands of meals to those in need on Christmas. That one meal makes a huge difference for many who have nowhere else to eat or go during this time of year, including Mobile's homeless and formerly incarcerated population. The Mission says its goal is to feed 2,500 people in both Mobile and Pensacola combined by the end of the week to meet their ultimate goal of feeding 5,000 people for the holidays. (FOX10 News)
2. Blood supplies are desperately needed in Mobile, and one local community blood center is even offering e-gift cards to those who donate. According to Red Cross, healthcare facilities, are seeing "the worst [blood] shortage in 10 years," and to combat this, LifeSouth on Hillcrest Road is currently giving a $20 e-gift card to people who stop by to give blood. Right now, LifeSouth needs people to donate who have an O blood type, but the facility is welcoming people with all blood types to help with the overall supply. (utv44.com)
3. Mobile murder suspect Jason Cooley is back in jail after an overnight arrest in Prichard. Cooley had been accused of killing his girlfriend in 2019 and was indicted on the murder charge, but made bail after a week in jail. Early Friday morning, he was booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail for first-degree assault. No further details have been released about Cooley's new charge. (FOX10 News)

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Today in Mobile:

• Winter Camps At Exploreum Science Center- Week Two (8:30 AM)

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From my notebook:

• The Mobile County Health Department will be resuming its normal hours of operation today, Dec. 27, after being closed for the Christmas holiday. (Facebook)
• The hosts of The Mobile Alabama Business Podcast recently sat down with David Clark, CEO of Visit Mobile, to discuss his life, career journey, and how he got into the world of tourism. (Facebook)
• Before the holiday, members of the Young Adults Committee and Executive Committee of the Mobile NAACP made care packages for individuals experiencing homelessness in Mobile. (Facebook)

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That's it for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.