🌱 Patch AM: How Harrisonburg’s Salvation Army has helped neighbors for 100 years

Greetings Harrisonburg! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Harrisonburg’s Salvation Army has helped neighbors for 100 years
• Could this fake city invoice already be in your inbox?
• Why Harrisonburg’s Sentara RMH is now a top maternity destination

Also on today's calendar: The SlashO Longhorns Visit Harrisonburg! and 6 more events.

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

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Cloudy, windy and not as cold, with a high of 45 and low of 30 degrees.
• Thursday: Cold with low clouds, temps: high: 35, low: 23.
• Friday: Cloudy and cold, with a high of 36 and low of 31 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. A Century of Compassion: The Salvation Army in Harrisonburg & Rockingham County (rocktownnow.com) — Harrisonburg residents can turn to the local Salvation Army on Jefferson Street for emergency shelter, food assistance, and disaster support, all offered without discrimination. Marking 100 years in the city, the Harrisonburg Corps continues to provide beds, meals, case management, and spiritual programs, while relying heavily on local volunteers and donations to keep these services going for neighbors in crisis.
   

2. Harrisonburg police warns of fake invoice scam impersonating city officials (whsv.com) — Harrisonburg police are warning anyone who recently applied for land-use approvals to watch for fake email invoices impersonating the city’s Community Development Department. Officials say real city emails end in “@harrisonburgva.gov” and urge residents to verify unexpected invoices directly with the office before sending any payment.
   

3. Sentara RMH Family Birthplace earns national recognition (whsv.com) — Sentara RMH’s Family Birthplace in Harrisonburg has been named one of Virginia’s best hospitals for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report, its third recognition in four years. Doctors say strong collaboration among OBs, neonatologists, nurses, and families helps provide advanced support for newborns and keeps mothers and babies together during care.
   

4. Free tax prep returns to Staunton, Waynesboro thanks to expanded United Way (augustafreepress.com) — A Harrisonburg- and Rockingham-based United Way is restoring free tax preparation services across the region, including sites in Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro for households making $68,000 or less. Backed by an $18,000 grant through Virginia’s VITA program, the effort aims to file about 300 returns and save local working families tens of thousands in filing fees.
   

5. Corporate investment in residential housing may be another hurdle for first-time buyers (highlandcountypress.com) — Harrisonburg is singled out as one of the U.S. cities where more than one-fifth of homes are owned by corporations, a trend researchers say is squeezing first-time buyers. A new national report finds corporate landlords steadily expanding their footprint, while states and cities experiment with laws to curb investor dominance and keep more homes within reach of local families.
   

📸 Around Harrisonburg

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Harrisonburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 13

• The SlashO Longhorns Visit Harrisonburg!
  James Madison University, 800 S Main St, Harrisonburg
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 10

• "Caravaggio" film
  Court Square Theater , 41-F Court Square , Harrisonburg
  7:00 pm

Thursday December 11

• THMS Winter Choir Concert
  THOMAS HARRISON MIDDLE SCHOOL
  4:00 pm

Friday December 12

• 2025 Pre-Legislative Holiday Brunch
  Massanetta Springs Camp & Conference Center , 712 Massanetta Springs Rd , Harrisonburg
  9:00 am
• Seán Heely’s Celtic Christmas
  Forbes Center , Concert Hall
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 13

• Winter 2025 Commencement
  Atlantic Union Bank Center Event Floor
  10:00 am
• Master Gardener Talk Series
  Frances Plecker Education Center , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  10:30 am
• Terrace: Members Only Wreath-making
  Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  12:00 pm

Sunday December 14

• Native Plant Social with Shenandoah Chapter of Virginia Native Plant Society
  Frances Plecker Education Center , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  1:30 pm

📣 Harrisonburg Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 10

• Holiday Choir Concert
  Wilbur S. Pence Middle Dayton, VA 22821
  7:00 pm

Thursday December 11

• THMS Winter Choir Concert
  THOMAS HARRISON MIDDLE SCHOOL
  4:00 pm

Saturday December 13

• Master Gardener Talk Series
  Frances Plecker Education Center , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  10:30 am
• Terrace: Members Only Wreath-making
  Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  12:00 pm

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 Harrisonburg PatchAM possible:

• Test Brand Partner Business — (540) 867-5309
  This will be shared to 12 patches
• Sunpower Supreme — 5408675309
  i can update the location
• Better Add a Business — 5407640023
  Really & This Is So Janky To Work With No Edit Button!

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

• Possibly in the market for a vinyl fence, looking for someone to maybe come by and give me an estimate.
  I live in the city, townhouse. I have an HOA so the fence has to be comparable to other fences. But I will take care of that hurdle (Nextdoor Liberty Square/II/Welling)

• Pilot Travel Centers, LLC posted a job opening for Janitorial Maintenance in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
• IXL Learning posted a job opening for Language Learning Specialist, Rosetta Stone - Endangered Languages in Harrisonburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Harrisonburg here.

Ok Harrisonburg! 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 come in peace. You come in pieces.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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