🌱 Toys For Tots Brings Christmas Joy + Quick Food Delivery In Town

Hey, Charlotte! I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town, including news about...

• Charlotte Knights Baseball Club staff help rebuild Coul-Oak youth baseball field.
• Toys for Tots brings Christmas joy and hope to America’s less fortunate children.
• Quick-delivery platform Food Rocket has arrived in Charlotte, with two area Circle K stores.

But first, today's weather:

Rain and a thunderstorm. High: 67 Low: 31.

Here are the top five stories today in Charlotte:

1. "A man wanted in connection with a deadly shooting in east Charlotte in late October was arrested in Guilford County Monday, investigators said. Tyquawon Parker, 27, was arrested by the Guilford County Sheriff's Office on outstanding warrants for murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the shooting death of Ahylea Willard. Willard was found shot to death at an apartment complex on Snow Lane in east Charlotte on Oct. 23," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
2. "Members of the Charlotte Knights Baseball Club staff are helping rebuild Coul-Oak youth baseball field. It is part of the Fields for our Future initiative presented by Truist. The team is led by Knights’ Director of Field Operations, Matt Parrott. Parrott told WCCB this effort will make the field safer for years to come. The Knights and Truist have led the competition for a number of years...Tommy Viola with the Charlotte Knights tells WCCB they expect to do more fields in the future," WCCB Charlotte reports. (WCCB Charlotte)
3. "In-store shopping took the lead over online shopping for the first time in two years, according to a survey by global real estate company, JLL. Local shops like CLT Find are hoping that is the case. Co-owner Christy Pope says it has been encouraging customers since the summer to come shop in-store versus online. CLT Find features the artwork and products of over 90 local vendors," Spectrum News reports. (Spectrum News)
4. "Quick-delivery platform Food Rocket has arrived in Charlotte, N.C., with the launch of its operations at two area Circle K stores. Through its app, Food Rocket offers up to 7,000 SKUs, with an emphasis on grocery and convenience products – Circle K’s breakfast sandwiches, tacos, burgers, pizza, coffee, snacks and bakery products – as well as hundreds of cold beverages, top-selling beers...and more." Progressive Grocer reports. (Progressive Grocer)
5. "WBTV is proud to partner with Operation Toys for Tots and Scott Clark Auto Group for the 2022 holiday season. ... The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is to help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America’s less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy. This year, organizers are short on newborn toys, specifically for girls. New, unwrapped toys are being sought for children from birth to 17 years," WBTV reports. (WBTV)

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Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Active Reading Family Workshop | Virtual Event (10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.)
• Independence Branch Baby / Toddler Storytime | Virtual Event (10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.)
• Book a Librarian (virtual event) | Nonprofit Services (11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
• Job Search Assistance | Virtual Events (1:00 p.m.)
• Video Lab for Kids: Making a Movie Trailer at Apple Northlake Mall (2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
• French Conversation Club for Teens | Virtual Events (4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
• My Next Step | Virtual Events (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Mock Interviews for Teens (Matthews Branch) (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Teen Writing Group: WBL Teen Newsletter (Hybrid) (5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• The "Where Should We Vegan?" Dinner Tour at Camp North End (6:00 p.m.)
• Zipline and Dine at Whitewater (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
• Laugh Out Loud: A night of comedy at Free Will - Craft + Vine (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A family-owned soft drink company, Cheerwine, is debuting new recipes to celebrate the return of their seasonal beverage, Cheerwine Holiday Punch. Cheerwine-inspired recipes are from seasoned mixologists and chefs — four of whom are in the Charlotte area! Check out their creations: Chris Rogienski: Cheerwine Chops, Heather Hamilton: Holiday Cheers, Stephanie Andrews: Cup of Cheer, and Stephanie Andrews: Snowshoes (Cheerwine)
• 25 Holiday Shows And Concerts Coming To Charlotte North Carolina (kiss951.com)
• CELEBRATE THE SEASON: @fourthwardclt's Holiday Sip & Stroll is back again this weekend. Perfect for a unique date night or family excursion. Enjoy a festive outdoor evening stroll through Historic Fourth Ward, beautifully decorated. ... (Charlotte Center City via Facebook)
• Journey to the Badge: Episode 3 Teaser. We’re going behind the scenes with Recruit Class 193 for this biweekly series. Tune into our YouTube channel Friday at 7:00 p.m. for the full episode. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department via Facebook)
• Gather the whole family for Holiday Pops with the Charlotte Symphony! Enjoy festive tunes, falling snow, fun with Santa, and so much more. Dec. 16 - Dec. 18 at Knight Theater. BOGO 50% OFF through Nov. 30! >> bit.ly/csoholidaypops (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• With your support, Children's Theatre of Charlotte will bring gifts from The Winter Wonderland Shop to underserved daycares so that children can experience the joy of giving this holiday season at no cost to families. (Children's Theatre of Charlotte via Facebook)
• Looking for a new job? Don’t miss your chance! CMS Transportation is hosting a hiring fair today. Bus drivers and maintenance techs needed. Learn more by visiting this website: cmsk12.org/domain/19 (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• There’s never a shortage of teachers shopping at Classroom Central. Because of generous donors like YOU, but can give them the support they need, so they can continue molding the minds of our young students. (Classroom Central via Facebook)
• Join us on Dec. 7 at 3:00 p.m. at Matthews Library for a free Spanish-language seminar on obtaining capital. Learn about how to acquire loans, qualify for subsidies and much more. Register here --> https://bit.ly/3hKuJ5G (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)

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Events:

• A Cappella Christmas (December 3)
• Top 10 Divorce Mistakes and How to Avoid Them - Vesta's Charlotte, NC Hub (December 7)
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That's it for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Charlotte Daily? Contact me at charlotte@patch.com