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🌱 Patch AM: Which Springfield nonprofits just landed over half a million in grants?

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Coffee in hand, Springfield? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which Springfield nonprofits just landed over half a million in grants?
  • How a new pediatric clinic could reshape kids’ care in Springfield
  • How Springfield shoppers can turn $5 into $50 of groceries today.

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 7 more events.

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

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

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

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Cooler; breezy in the morning, with a high of 45 and low of 26 degrees.
  • Saturday: Considerable cloudiness, temps: high: 43, low: 8. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny and colder, with a high of 24 and low of 21 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Over $542,000 in grants awarded to Springfield nonprofits and educational institutions (ksmu.org) — More than 40 Springfield-area nonprofits and colleges just received a combined $542,500 in grants aimed at mental health, education, housing, and support for low-income families. Local groups like Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, Springfield Community Gardens, and the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools will use the funds to expand services, while area colleges gain new nursing scholarships and support for single parents.
   

2. O'Reilly family provides lead gift for new Children's Mercy clinic (sgfcitizen.org) — A new 40,000-square-foot Children’s Mercy with Mercy pediatric clinic is coming to Mercy’s south Springfield campus in Ozark, backed by a lead gift from the O’Reilly family. The $30 million facility will consolidate pediatric specialists and primary care, aims to make Springfield a regional destination for children’s health, and is slated to open in December 2026.
   

3. Putting the Ozarks First; Addressing food insecurity before the holidays (ozarksfirst.com) — Springfield-area families are facing sharply rising food insecurity, with Crosslines in Springfield reporting 51% more holiday assistance requests than last year. Ozarks Food Harvest and partners like Hy-Vee are urging local shoppers to donate at checkout so pantries across Springfield and nearby Ozark can keep up with demand after a costly fall government shutdown.
   

4. Serving the Ozarks: The Kitchen Inc. (ozarksfirst.com) — Springfield’s The Kitchen Inc. has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from Jeff Bezos’s Day 1 Families Fund, boosting its ability to shelter and house local families. Leaders say the money, combined with community donations, will expand beds, keep kids warm at bus stops, and speed up getting Greene, Christian, and Webster County families into permanent housing over the next five years.
   

5. Springfield's historic Christmas parade returns this weekend (ozarksfirst.com) — Springfield’s longest-running event, the Christmas Parade, rolls through downtown this weekend with more than 100 entries and Central High School coaches serving as grand marshals for the school’s 100th anniversary. Expect road closures along South Avenue, Park Central Square, and near the Expo Center, and organizers urge families to plan parking, safety, and a meeting spot for kids in advance.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: We found his home.
    Found: Australian shepherd. My (adult) kids put a leash on and they are walking the neighborhood. (Nextdoor Timberline)
  • Does anybody out there need anything?
    It's getting cold out.... a space heater, sleeping bag, a blanket? I definitely do not have much but I'm trying to better myself by helping my… (Nextdoor Mark Twain)
  • Willard clarifies the parks department will face budget cuts, no closure... (X: kytv)
  • MoDOT has updated its Sunshine Street East Corridor project to include fewer medians and more U-turn lanes. It appears ready to push forward with... (X: sgfcitizen)
  • Curia Global, Inc. - AMRI Global posted a job opening for Manager, Quality Assurance in Springfield. Apply here.
  • New Day Healthcare posted a job opening for Payroll Specialist in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Springfield here.

Ok Springfield! 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 couldn’t put it down.
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