🌱 Book Drive Benefits Sick Kids + Café Hosts Holiday Baking Contest

Hi all. I'm here with your fresh copy of the Charlotte Daily, filled with all the community news you need to know right now. Including updates on...

• Woman coordinates a book drive to benefit pediatric patients this holiday season.
• Salvation army helps over 2,600 families have gifts to put under the Christmas tree this year.
• Christmas at the Café today features a gingerbread house competition among local bakers.

But first, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 52 Low: 28.

Here are the top four stories in Charlotte today:

1. "On Monday, WBTV posted about Hartley Plyler and her book drive to benefit pediatric patients this holiday season. A longtime #MollysKids, she is organizing a big gift to UNC Children’s - North Carolina Children’s Hospital. She was asking for new books to give to kids staying there over the holidays. ... She said books are hugely appreciated when you’re a pediatric patient. Hartley created an Amazon wish list, making it easy to send books to her. ... In the first three days since the post, Hartley had 80 new books," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
2. "The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte is sharing the Christmas spirit with families in need across the community. On Friday morning, members began helping over 2,600 families make sure they have gifts under the tree for their children this year. The event kicked off around 8 a.m. at The Salvation Army’s Christmas center on Yorkmont Road in southwest Charlotte. The group was able to pack 50 families’ cars with toys, boxes of food and bicycles," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
3. "Author, poet and spoken word artist Dionne D. Hunter is on a mission to illuminate the beauty of diversity within the performing arts. ... Dionne and her insightful team endeavor to showcase community minded, talented artists while providing a high quality, stimulating educational yet entertaining experiences that inspires all. ... Earlier this year Hunter was awarded an Arts and Science Council Cultural Vision grant. That grant allowed her to produce a series of FREE cultural events," EIN News reports. (EIN News)
4. "The Community Matters café is celebrating the holidays with Christmas at the Café Saturday, December 17. The event will feature a gingerbread house competition among local bakers. There will also be live music, food, and more holiday activities. This is a free event. The café is a partnership with the Charlotte Rescue Mission. They foster a community for people who have graduated from the mission’s programs to learn job skills and customer service. The goal is to get people back into the workforce and set them up for success," WCCB Charlotte reports. (WCCB Charlotte)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne Benefitting Levine Childrens Hospital (11:00 a.m.)
• Charlotte Christmas Village at Truist Field (12:00 p.m.)
• Family Holiday Skate Party at Harding University High School (1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
• Winterfest at Carowinds (5:00 p.m.)
• Charlotte Checkers vs. Rochester Americans at Bojangles Coliseum (6:00 p.m.)
• JAZZ ROOM Holiday Edition: Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Swing at Belk Theater (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• 11 best new restaurants in Charlotte, right now (Axios Charlotte)
• QC Happenings: 9 ways to enjoy the holiday season in Charlotte (WCNC.com)
• Don't Waste Your Money: Tax Refunds Decrease (WCCB Charlotte)
• How to prevent car battery failure (WCNC.com)
• What The Tech?: Gift Ideas for Him (WCCB Charlotte)
• Foster Friday: Help Find Taffy A Home (WCCB Charlotte)
• Fitness Friday: Up-Tempo Band Work (WCCB Charlotte)
• Football fun picks on Charlotte Today (WCNC.com)
• Shawn Mann performs for Charlotte Today (WCNC.com)
• CMPD is honoring victims of domestic violence with the 18th Annual Domestic Violence Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony. Each ribbon on the tree represents a life lost to domestic violence in Mecklenburg County and across the state. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via Facebook)
• Amazon donated $15,000 worth of school supplies, dozens of books and bags of toys to students at Paw Creek Elementary School today. Amazon.com representatives read books to the students. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• Winter Break Reminder: Schools will be closed to students beginning Tuesday, Dec. 20, through Monday, Jan. 2. *Jan. 2 is a teacher workday. Students will return to class on Jan. 3. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• We're down to our next to last ArtPop #FashionFriday! We've so enjoyed reliving each piece of our 2022 Upcycled Fashion Show! Meet "Amadeus Wonka the 5th!" Designed by Bunny Gregory (@ug_battleofthearts) in collaboration...(ArtPop Street Gallery via Instagram)
• Charlotte Fire firefighters are helping Santa get ready for Christmas by collecting toys for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Explorers Christmas Project. You can donate new, unwrapped toys at ANY Charlotte firehouse. (Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte NC via Facebook)
• We’re looking forward to welcoming audience members to the Land of Sweets for our second week of Nutcracker performances! Experience the magic with us at Belk Theater until Dec. 23! https://bit.ly/NutcrackerCLTBa...(Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
• On Dec. 15, about 55 Olympic High School students continued the annual tradition of holding Operation Santa Claus for the students of Hidden Valley Elementary. Led by teacher Ashley Alston, they raised money...(Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• Our Holiday Tree Lighting set a dreamy, magical, and heartwarming tone to start off the RMHC of GC's holidays. Thank you to all of our families and donors who came out to see Santa and hear the Golden State Men's Chorus sing! (Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte via Facebook)
• We are astounded by the support of our community. Recently, Ashlyn, a high school student, decided to use her 16th birthday party to make a difference and raise funds for Freedom School. (Charlotte Freedom School Partners via Facebook)
• Give the music lover in your life three concerts for $99! Wrap up the music of The Beatles and James Bond, PLUS Raiders of the Lost Ark, with John Williams’s epic score performed LIVE! >> bit.ly/cso3for99 (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with another update!

— Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm an East Coast Girl with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

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