🌱 SPD Delivers 1K Community Gifts + Santa Visits Children's Hospital

Good morning, Savannah! 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, your weekend weather:

• Saturday: Partly sunny and colder. High: 36 Low: 20.
• Sunday: Cold with plenty of sunshine. High: 45 Low: 22.
• Monday: Chilly with plenty of sun. High: 49 Low: 24.

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Here are the top three stories today in Savannah:

1. The Savannah Police Department, local sponsors, and volunteers delivered more than 1,000 gifts to the Savannah community on Thursday afternoon. The gifts were placed on two Old Savannah Tours trollies for police officers and volunteers to hand out. (WJCL News Savannah)
2. Santa made a special visit to the kids at the Duane and Cynthia Willet Children's Hospital in Savannah on Thursday. During the visit, Santa handed out toys donated by Savannah firefighters, which they had collected during their annual December fundraiser run. (WSAV-TV)
3. Savannah’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement is about to reach its one-year mark of working with community youth and has connected with hundreds of kids this year. The city created the organization as an alternative approach to addressing gun violence in Savannah. (WTOC)

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This weekend in Savannah:

Saturday, December 24

• Christmas Eve Cruises At Savannah Riverboat Cruises (12:00 PM)
• Savannah Christmas Market At JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District (12:00 PM)
• Christmas Eve Child-Oriented Service At Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church (3:30 PM)

Sunday, December 25

• Savannah Jazz Annual Christmas Jam Concert At JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a delightful event to wrap up the holiday season and 2022? The Davenport House Museum will be hosting Holiday Evening Tours by Candlelight beginning Monday, Dec. 26 and running through Friday, Dec. 30. (Savannah Morning News)
• The freezing temperatures this weekend are dangerous to both humans and animals alike. Local organization Renegade Paws Rescue is planning to open pet-friendly warming centers this weekend at the Tompkins Community Center. (WSAV-TV)
• The Savannah History Museum is excited to have extra days for its 1779 Siege of Savannah Loyalists and Liberty Battlefield Tours! The tours will run from Dec. 26 through Dec. 31 and coincide with the 244th anniversary of when the British attacked Savannah on Dec. 29. (Savannah History Museum via Facebook)

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Events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (December 27)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around. Happy holidays!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.