Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Toy Drives In Lakeland: How To Make The Holidays Merry For Everyone

Be sure to catch "Very Merry Christmas" Sip & Paint Party on the Lakeland Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 17th Patch AM
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Hi there, Lakeland! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How your Lakeland toy donations can still make Christmas brighter
  • Five meaningful ways to give back in Lakeland this holiday season
  • What will Kate Wallace’s appointment mean for Lakeland’s public schools?

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles.

Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Lakeland? Post it to Lakeland photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Partly sunny and nice, with a high of 77 and low of 59 degrees.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 82, low: 66.
  • Friday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 81 and low of 49 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Toy Drives In Lakeland: How To Make The Holidays Merry For Everyone (patch.com) — Lakeland residents still have time to brighten the holidays for local children through several toy drives, including Toys for Tots donations accepted at the Auburndale warehouse through Dec. 20. CASA for Kids, the Neighborhood Christmas Store, and Rudolph Round-Up are also collecting toys and winterwear, helping thousands of kids across Polk County and nearby areas share in the season’s joy.
   

2. Make Lasting Holiday Memories With These 5 Volunteer Opportunities In Lakeland (patch.com) — Lakeland neighbors can celebrate the season by volunteering with local groups that support patients, parks, animals, families, and seniors. Opportunities range from fostering pets over the holidays to helping United Way programs and assisting at-risk elders through Volunteers in Service to the Elderly.
   

3. Kate Wallace to Serve on Polk County School Board After DeSantis Appointment (lkldnow.com) — Lakeland residents now have a new voice influencing local schools after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed former Lakeland Leads director Kate Wallace to the Polk County School Board, representing a district that includes parts of Lakeland. The article details her background, ties to Lakeland education initiatives, and her controversial pro–school choice views, alongside concerns from the teachers union about funding and privatization.
   

4. Lakeland Pulls Plug on Stalled Oak Street Project — Keeps $205,000 (lkldnow.com) — Lakeland city commissioners have officially terminated a long-stalled $70 million Oak Street redevelopment deal with Tampa-based Onicx Group and will keep $205,000 in fees and deposits for the CRA. After years of missed deadlines and parking disputes, officials say they’ll restart the process with a new request for proposals, aiming to protect public parking and fairness to other potential developers.
   

5. President Trump's press secretary speaks at Southeastern graduation (theledger.com) — Southeastern University’s latest graduating class in Lakeland heard a virtual commencement address from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, streamed live from Washington. The appearance came through connections with alumnus Davis Ingle, now a senior aide in Trump’s press office and son of Southeastern’s president, highlighting how a Lakeland campus network reaches into national politics.
   

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Former Florida Tile employees
    Looking for former Florida Tile maintenance workers in the Lakeland plant, between 1983-2000. Contact Brittney Fries @ 813.230.7702 or bfries... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • My fur baby boy has been missing since sunday.
    Sometime friday evening he got into a cat fight and saturday his left side of his face was swollen. We made him a Vet appointment this morning and we… (Nextdoor Fairfax)
  • *hate that I have to add this, but i'm aware that this is something that is not ideal.
    this is a decision that it took a long time for me to do but it's for the best for her. i'd rather rehome her to somebody I can check in that… (Nextdoor Raintree)
  • Sam's Club posted a job opening for Baker and Packager Associate in Lakeland. Apply here.
  • HD Supply posted a job opening for Inventory Control Associate in Lakeland. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lakeland here.

Ok Lakeland! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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