🌱 MLK Day Food Donations In St. Louis + Black-Owned Pharmacy Opening

Hello again, everybody. It's Wednesday in St. Louis and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Rain and a thunderstorm. High: 48 Low: 42.

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Here are the top three stories today in St. Louis:

1. On Tuesday, the mother of a student slain in the CVPA shooting walked her daughter’s classmates through the doors as they return to school in person. Keisha Acres said the loss of 15-year-old Alexzandria Bell was devastating, but with the support of counseling and messages pouring into her daughter’s old phone, she is learning to find the hope to move forward. Acres is starting a GoFundMe to help CVPA students attend summer camp and college, and donations can be made at the link. (KMOV4)
2. Urban League volunteers passed out over 100,000 tons of food to thousands of community members to honor MLK on Monday. Adults and kids worked in assembly lines to fill cars with turkeys, dairy products, and canned goods to get them through the next two weeks. Michael McMillin, President and CEO of Urban League of St. Louis, shares how moving it is to see the “community come before a common cause to celebrate one of the greatest leaders this world has ever known.”(KMOV4)
3. Black-owned Greater Health Pharmacy & Wellness is set to celebrate its grand opening Tuesday, Feb. 28. Founder and CEO, Dr. Marcus Howard, explains that the increase in Black healthcare providers in Black neighborhoods aims to end life-threatening health disparities for Black patients. The pharmacy will be located in Visitation Park. (KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis)

Today in St. Louis:

• Bring Your Own: iPad And iPhone Basics II Virtually With St. Louis County Library - Grant’s View Branch (9:30 AM)
• Exhibition - "Wonder Things" At Atrium Gallery (11:00 AM)
• Feature Film: "Winnie the Pooh" At St. Louis County Library - Prairie Commons Branch (11:00 AM)
• Card Club: Pinochle At St. Louis Library County Library - Thornhill Branch (2:00 PM)
• Live Music - Margaret And Friends At Hammerstones (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Missouri History Museum is hosting free storytelling for children ages two to six and their families on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. The museum also offers bilingual Spanish-English storytelling on the second Saturday and the fourth Friday of each month. (St. Louis Sprout & About)
• Go to the Show Me St. Louis Facebook page by Friday, Jan. 20 and enter to win four tickets to see the Blue Man Group at the Fabulous Fox. Two winners will be selected this Friday and must claim their tickets within eight hours. Entry instructions and eligibility rules are available at the link. (KSDK.com)
• Spine Indie Bookstore & Cafe is hosting an open mic night for singers and songwriters tonight (Wednesday, Jan. 18) at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and all listeners are welcome! (SLT Today)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— 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.