🌱 Holiday Hardships For Afghan Refugees + Local School Free Toy Drive

Good morning, Round Rock! I sincerely hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and I'm very happy to be back with your new edition of the Round Rock Daily. Here's all the local news you need to know right now. Today's issue includes:

• Local Afghan refugee families experience hardships after freeze damage to their homes.
• Muslim and Jewish communities come together during the holidays at local restaurant.
• A faith-based private school hosted its annual toy drive with thousands of free gifts.

But first, today's weather:

Abundant sunshine. High: 52 Low: 41.

🏡 Are you looking for a way to differentiate yourself from other real estate agents in Round Rock? Our exclusive newsletter sponsorships help you gain valuable exposure and attract new clients. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top stories today in Round Rock:

1. Some residents of the Townhomes at Double Creek are Afghan refugees who escaped the Taliban. They have lived in refugee camps and extended-stay hotels before arriving at their current townhomes, which are now flooded due to busted pipes during the recent hard freeze. Volunteers helping these families, who are unable to shower or cook food, are encouraging people to donate via Global Impact Initiative - an organization that helps refugees. (FOX 7 Austin)
2. As a way to "bridge faiths" and bring awareness to the community, an annual event called the "Muslims and Jews Christmas Day lunch" was created. This year, the event was hosted at Inchin's Bamboo Garden in Round Rock, with around 200 guests. “This year especially we wanted to bring it back because we have seen an astronomical rise in Anti-Semitic attacks and the rise of some of the extremism that we’re seeing, so we wanted to bring the families together and remind our Jewish brothers and sisters that we are here as a community for them,” organizer Zafar Choudhury said. (KXAN)
3. The Life Academy offered 3,700 free, brand-new toys for families who wanted to pick up gifts for their children for the holidays. "[It’s for] all families, not just those who maybe have always struggled with their financial situation," said Pirotina, co-owner of The Life Academy. "Maybe they’ve just had some serious hardships like a lot of us have the last couple of years." (Fox 7 Austin)

Patch deals of the day:

Whether you're soaking up the season or ready to hit snooze on the holidays, you deserve a little something for yourself. And these limited-time offers — hand-selected by the Patch Deals team — could be just what you need to start 2023 on a high note.

* Wine Insiders Offer (70% off) — Get 15 bottles of red blend for a fraction of what you'd normally pay. Shipping isn't cheap at $29.99, but that still comes out to about $8 per bottle.

* 2 Dozen Mixed Color Roses (53 percent off) — Get 24 gorgeous long-stem roses delivered straight from the farm to your door.

* $100 Restaurant.com eGift Card (89% off) — Pay just $11 and get $100 to spend at participating local restaurants.

(Patch may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in Round Rock:

• Free Video Event at Office Evolution (8 a.m.)
• Bar Trivia at Anchor Bar (6:30 p.m.)
• Williamson Co Libertarian Social at Lupe Tortilla (6:30 p.m.)
• Karaoke at American Legion George Johns Post 447 (7 p.m.)
• Taco Tuesday Karaoke at The Alcove Cantina (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Williamson County is offering free vaccines: "Come see us in Taylor, TX for free flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines! Our walk-in clinic will be open tomorrow December 27th from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch from 12:00-1:00 p.m. 👉100% free vaccinations with no admin fee!" (Williamson County and Cities Health District via Facebook)
• "5️⃣ 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐄! Donating to emergency responders during the holidays is a great way to show your support and appreciation for their hard work. It can make a difference in the lives of those who put their lives on the line every day." (Round Rock Police Officers Association via Facebook)
• The YMCA has some end of year discounts for you! "NEW Year, NEW Goals, NEW You! Find your MOTIVATION in 2023 with the YMCA! 😁 NEW Members join for $0 now through February 3rd online or in the health & wellness center with code: NEWYEAR23 The deals don't stop there!" (YMCA of Central Texas via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (December 29)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another update!

— Elaine Thompson

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Round Rock Daily? Contact me at RoundRock@Patch.com