Good morning, Saint Joseph.

The Adopt A Family program needs more adopters as 453 of 881 families were adopted by Wednesday; AFL-CIO Community Services will open its gift room from Dec.

17 through Christmas Eve from 9am to 5pm — on Christmas Eve, its hours change to 9am to 1pm — to welcome volunteers.

The United Way of Greater St. Joseph will assemble 3,000 meal kits for local families this holiday season, distributing them to food pantries, churches, nonprofits and schools.

Volunteers can join (Friday, Dec. 12 at 1:00 p.m. and Saturday morning) for eight sessions running until Dec. 22.

First Lutheran Church in St. Joseph is hosting Christmas Adventures where families pay $15 for a Trip to the North Pole featuring a gingerbread town from Mrs Claus’s kitchen and supporting the Open Door Food Kitchen.

Trips run from 2 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21.

The Salvation Army is asking for new, unopened toys and clothing donations for its annual Toy Shop distribution day (Dec.

17 and Dec. 18 at 602 Messanie St) to help provide items for children, especially older kids and boys, and gift cards are welcome.

The Wayward Dreamers Guild is hosting the 5th Annual Krampusnacht Festival and Fundraising Ball tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. in downtown, featuring hayrides, toy drives and a Krampuslauf, with a costume contest at the Trail Theater from 7 p.m. — all to benefit the Noyes Home for Children.

St. Joseph Holiday Homes tour invites locals to view five homes and one church on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Organizer Sarah Wilson noted that tickets cost $35 + a discount for museum members with a preview night on Friday limited to 10 people.

MoWest’s women’s basketball team visited Pickett Elementary to honor first-graders for leading attendance from August through October & to invite them to a Monday home game where about 2300 students will cheer the Griffons.

St. Joseph Animal Shelter experts advise pet owners to limit outdoor time for dogs in cold weather below 45, especially for small, young & older pets.

They warn to bring pets indoors if it drops below 32 and to watch for shivering or lethargy.

Teen pool player Jordan Helfery learned her craft during the 2020 flood when she discovered her dad’s pool table and won tournaments and a bronze medal at the Predator WPA World Junior Championship in Spain; she will sharpen her skills at the Ultimate Pool USA Iowa Open in March.

Holiday Homes Tour

10 AM – 4 PM — 1100 Charles St, St Joseph, MO — Ticket purchase required — Explore beautifully decorated holiday homes in the heart of St. Joseph.

Lafayette Varsity Basketball vs. Mid-Buchanan

6-7:15 p.m. — Lafayette High School — Entry fee may apply — Catch the high-energy basketball action as Lafayette faces off against Mid-Buchanan in this thrilling home game.

2025 Holiday Tutu Trot

4:30-5:55 p.m. — Krug Park — Free entry — Have fun walking or running under beautiful holiday lights in a festive atmosphere.