Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How one Merrick dad turned grief into 11,200 holiday smiles
Coming up on the Merrick Patch calendar: Exciting 2026 virtual and in-person programs with Hospital for Special Surgery!
Morning Merrick! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How one Merrick dad turned grief into 11,200 holiday smiles
- Merrick mourns 20-year-old killed in Southern State Parkway crash
Also on today's calendar: Exciting 2026 virtual and in-person programs with Hospital for Special Surgery! and 7 more events.
Find out what's happening in Merrickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Merrickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Sunday: Breezy with clouds and sun, with a high of 37 and low of 26 degrees.
- Monday: Turning cloudy, temps: high: 39, low: 33.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 43 and low of 38 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Joe Gallart collects over 11,200 Toys in annual drive (liherald.com) — A longtime Merrick resident, Joe Gallart, has grown his Desirae’s Darlings toy drive to a record 11,200-plus gifts this holiday season, honoring his late daughter while helping children in need. With support from local schools, volunteers, and regional charities, the nonprofit has now distributed more than 26,000 toys since 2023, and Gallart hopes to expand the effort even further. 
• 'Gentle, Kind Heart': Man, 20, Mourned Following Crash On Southern State In Massapequa (dailyvoice.com) — A 20-year-old Merrick man, Abraham Toribio, died after his car left the Southern State Parkway in Massapequa, striking a pole and trees on a slippery, high-speed stretch. As state police continue investigating, his family remembers his gentle, caring nature and is seeking help with funeral and church service costs through an online fundraiser.
📸 Around Merrick
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Merrick
★ Featured events ★
- Exciting 2026 virtual and in-person programs with Hospital for Special Surgery!
9:00 am - Long Island’s Sensational Rock Band Glenn Strange
Brian Dempsey's, 39-31 Bell Blvd,
6:30 pm
Monday January 5
Friday January 23
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Boys & Girls Varsity Bowling Match vs. Baldwin High School
Roosevelt UFSD , 2407 Grand Ave , Baldwin
5:00 pm - Boys & Girls Varsity Bowling Match vs. Oceanside High School
Roosevelt UFSD , 2407 Grand Ave , Baldwin
5:00 pm - Boys Varsity Wrestling Match at Glen Cove High School
Roosevelt UFSD , 150 Dosoris Ln , Glen Cove
5:30 pm - Boys & Girls Varsity Track Meet
Roosevelt UFSD , 275 Wolf Hill Rd , HUNTINGTN STA
6:30 pm - Boys Varsity Wrestling Match at Bellmore John F Kennedy High School
Roosevelt UFSD , 3000 Bellmore Ave , Bellmore
7:00 pm - Boys Varsity Wrestling Match vs Plainview Old Bethpage JFK High School
Roosevelt UFSD , 1 Wagner Ave , Roosevelt
5:00 pm - Girls Varsity Wrestling Match vs. Plainview Old Bethpage JFK High School
Roosevelt UFSD , 1 Wagner Ave , Roosevelt
5:00 pm - Boys Varsity Wrestling Match at Island Trees High School
Roosevelt UFSD , 59 Straight Ln , Levittown
9:15 am
Monday January 5
Tuesday January 6
Wednesday January 7
Friday January 9
Saturday January 10
📣 Merrick Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- DAHS Varsity Kickline
Lee Road School Wantagh, NY 11793
4:00 pm - Boys & Girls Varsity Bowling Match vs. Baldwin High School
Roosevelt UFSD , 2407 Grand Ave , Baldwin
5:00 pm - DAHS Open Nets
Lee Road School Wantagh, NY 11793
6:30 pm - LHE Elementary Companion Night
Massapequa Public Schools , 4925 Merrick Road , Massapequa
7:00 pm
Monday January 5
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Merrick PatchAM possible:
- Long Island Swim School — (516) 378-8467
Learn the Skills, Love the Sport, Swim for Life! - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - Catholic Charities of Long Island Immigration & Refugee Services — (631) 608-8282
Legal Counseling & Immigration Law Services /Representation
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Swiss Fire
The tragic New Year’s fire at the Crans-Montana, Switzerland night club had at this writing killed forty people. Someone got a photograph of the… (Nextdoor Margaret Blvd)
- Doherty Enterprises, Inc. posted a job opening for Dishwasher in Bellmore. Apply here.
- The Home Depot, Inc. posted a job opening for Lot Associate in Freeport. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Merrick here.
🗞 Nearby News
Bellmore
- Bellmore's best heading to wrestling nationals (liherald.com)
- Uniondale residents keep holiday spirit glowing with christmas lights (liherald.com)
Freeport
- Freeport eyes championship performances (liherald.com)
Roosevelt
Ok Merrick! 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 lava you.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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