🌱 Mobile Food Insecurity Resources + Operation Holiday Blues

Good morning, Mobile! Like many of you, the Patch staff will be taking some time off for the holiday season, so you may not see as many newsletters in your inbox between now and the New Year. We will resume our normal schedule during the first week of January. For now, here’s what you need to know about what’s happening around town.

But first, today's weather:

Sunny, windy and very cold. High: 32 Low: 19.

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Here are the top three stories in Mobile today:

1. Across Mobile, and throughout Alabama, there are resources available for those suffering from food insecurity. 65,000 people in Mobile County struggled with food insecurity in 2020, and 27,000 in Baldwin County, according to the Feeding the Gulf Coast food bank. A list of places where residents can find a free meal around the holidays in Mobile — including Waterfront Rescue Mission, Dumas Wesley Community Center, and more — is available at the link. (AL.com)
2. Eight people have been arrested for prostitution in an investigation deemed "Operation Holiday Blues." The Mobile Police Department's investigation into illegal drugs and prostitution, which started three months ago, has led to the arrest of 21 people in total. The operation was focused on Theodore and Tillman’s Corner, according to officials. (WKRG News 5)
3. One person was shot in an alleged carjacking in Mobile on Wednesday, according to the Mobile Police Department. At around 1:00 a.m., officers arrived Circle K at 6585 Rangeline Road in reference to a gunshot. The victim reports that he was approached by male subjects asking for a ride, and was then shot by one of the suspects. They then fled in the victim's car. Police say the victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury. (Fox 10 News)

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Today in Mobile:

• Christmas Brunch & Shop At Bellens Soap Company (11:00 AM)

Special notice:

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From my notebook:

• Respiratory illness cases are above average, according to Mobile County's Health Officer Dr. Kevin Philip Michaels. (NBC 15 WPMI)
• Cedar Point Pier will be closed until Monday, Dec. 26 at 6:00 a.m. because of forecasted weather conditions. (Mobile County, Alabama via Facebook)
• Ahead of the drastic drop in temperature, more shelters and warming shelters are opening in our area. Click the link to view the full list of shelters and information provided by the City of Mobile. (Fox 10 News)

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Events:

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll see you soon. Happy holidays!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.