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🌱 Patch AM: How Charleston’s police toy drive ran out of gifts early

Happening soon: Christmas Eve on the Charleston Patch calendar

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Monday December 22nd Patch AM
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Good morning to you Charleston! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Charleston’s police toy drive ran out of gifts early
  • How a new South Charleston lab hub could reshape state services
  • Meet the Charleston baker reinventing cinnamon rolls with Finnish flair

Today's riddle: What did the windowsill say to the glass? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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

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Weather forecast:

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

  • Monday: Increasing cloudiness, with a high of 52 and low of 44 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Cloudy with a brief shower, temps: high: 58, low: 41.
  • Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 56 and low of 47 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Thousands of gifts distributed through CPD toy drive (wchsnetwork.com) — More than 1,000 local children will wake up to Christmas gifts this year thanks to the Charleston Police Department’s Citizens’ Academy toy drive at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Demand was so high that toys ran out early, with schools, churches, and nonprofits like Children First relying on the effort to support kids who might otherwise go without presents.
   

2. State consolidated lab project takes steps forward (wvmetronews.com) — A $250 million state laboratory complex is moving ahead at the West Virginia Regional Technology Park in South Charleston, with construction bids due in January and opening targeted for summer 2028. The West Virginia Center for Laboratory Sciences will consolidate multiple state labs and agencies, bring about 400 workers to the area, and add shared amenities like a café, conference spaces, and an outdoor terrace.
   

3. Patrick County Urgent Care And Finnamon Buns, Inside Appalachia - West Virginia Public Broadcasting (wvpublic.org) — One segment of this week’s Inside Appalachia spotlights a Charleston baker who reimagines cinnamon rolls using her Finnish family bread recipe, a treat you might find at local markets. The episode also ranges across Appalachia, from rural health care and flood recovery to Christmas tree farms and the CSX Santa Train, but Charleston’s creative “Finn-amon” rolls provide a distinctly local flavor.
   

4. Register today for the 2026 West Virginia Press Association Legislative Lookahead (wvpress.org) — Media professionals in Charleston are invited to the West Virginia Press Association’s 2026 Legislative Lookahead on Friday, Jan. 9, at the Culture Center on the Capitol grounds. The free, daylong event offers panels with state leaders, Q&A opportunities, and discussions on public health, legislative priorities, and moving West Virginia forward, with RSVP requested in advance.
   

5. WV Safe Schools Helpline proving impactful in 2025 (wvmetronews.com) — From Charleston, state education officials report that West Virginia’s 24-hour Safe Schools Helpline has already handled 278 calls this school year, including about 30 immediate threats. Investigators say tips have helped quickly address bullying, suicidal concerns, and gun threats in both public and private schools, giving local families another layer of protection for students statewide.
   

📸 Around Charleston

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Charleston

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    Wednesday December 24
  • Christmas Eve
    Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
    10:00 am
    • Wednesday December 31
  • New Year's Eve
    Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
    10:00 am

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • 20% off for all fencing repairs after the recent storm!
    10% off for new customers! If you are in need of fence repairs or top-notch fencing services, Vaughan Fencing and Landscape Design is the way to… (Nextdoor Ward 6)
  • I had a package delivered to this doorstep.
    Please return it or let me know if you know this porch. USPS will be investigating. (Nextdoor Washington Heights)
  • CBRE Group, Inc. posted a job opening for Lease Admin Supervisor (Eastern Region) in Charleston. Apply here.
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Transportation DMV Agent 1 - Kanawha County in Charleston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Charleston here.

Ok Charleston! 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 feel your pane.
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