The Stroller, April 3, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Send information of charitable events to The Stroller

Is your company or organization making or collecting equipment for health professionals? Is your club or church going to sponsor a community blood drive?

The Stroller will publish information about community drives and collections at Triblive.com. Send information to vndnews@tribweb.com.

Trinity United Methodist Church to organize face mask collection

Trinity United Methodist Church, Brackenridge, along with Allegheny Health Network, is coordinating a volunteer assistance effort for medical caregivers.

Anyone who would like to sew face masks or fanny packs in which to store them is welcome to make as many as they wish and drop them off at the church, 547 10^th Ave., Brackenridge. The church will deliver the masks to Allegheny Health Network. Allegheny Valley Hospital, Harrison, is a part of Allegheny Health Network.

Fabric masks could be used for visitors to the facilities, caregivers who are not involved with direct patient care and are at low risk of catching COVID-19 from patients or transmitting to others or cover N95 masks for extra protection for caregivers on the front lines. Plastic fanny packs could be used for storing the masks or other personal protection items.

Drop off times are from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at the church office entrance and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the sanctuary entrance.

Patterns and instructions are available through the Rev. Greg Spenser at glspncr@gmail.com or contact Allegheny Health Network Director of Development Chelsea Thomas at 412-228-8454 or Chelsea.thomas@ahn.org. Inquiries about supporting COVID-19 needs should be sent to ahnheroes @ahn.org.

Community blood drive planned Sunday in New Kensington

First Evangelical Lutheran Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church Trinity Hall, 221 Ridge Ave. Appointments are required. Bring ID.

For an appointment, call 412-209-7000 or visit Vitalant.org, click on the orange “Make An Appointment” button and enter group code C5300045.

Feeding Freeport project accepting donations and volunteers

The Dynamic Community Foundation, a 501C3 organization that supports local families in need, is sponsoring the Feeding Freeport project that distributes free lunches to anyone in need from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays in the parking lot across from the Freeport Post Office.

To contribute to this cause, checks made out to Dynamic Community Foundation, can be sent to c/o NextHome Dynamic, 235 Fifth St., Freeport PA 16229. Please put “Feeding Freeport” in the memo line. Credit card donations can be made by searching for Feeding Freeport at gofundme.com. 100 percent of donations go directly to the cause.

Non-perishable food donations of vegetables, soups, beans, pasta, sauces, cookies, canned meats and individually wrapped snacks as well as brown or white paper lunch bags and 9 x 9-inch Styrofoam containers are welcome.

To volunteer your time, post contact information at facebook.com/events/1563579820471568/.

Small Acts of Kindness

In recent weeks, the Covid19 Virus has impacted everyone’s lives across the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Many have and will step up to help family, friends and others they don’t even know.

The Stroller wants to recognize those around us who are performing these small acts of kindness for others during this stressful time.

Did someone bring your groceries or medication? Perhaps a neighbor made sure that you were OK.

Send a short, one-paragraph note highlighting someone and how they helped you, your family or your organization to The Stroller at vndnews@tribweb.com.

Cancellations

All events listed below are canceled unless otherwise noted:

Allegheny Township

May 17: The free Fishing Derby at Northmoreland Park that was planned by the Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation is canceled, as are all park facility reservations for April and May.

Apollo

Apollo Area Historical Society museum will remain closed until at least May 2. The Society has rescheduled the April 5 program about trolleys to be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the WCTU Building, 317 N. Second St.

Arnold

Recycling collection has been suspended until further notice. All garbage and recycling items can be placed out for the garbage crew to collect. All items must be in a bag and tied up. No loose items will be picked up.

Thursdays: Services at Arnold Towers are canceled.

Arnold United Methodist Church: All meetings, activities and services are canceled.

Brackenridge

• The borough office is closed to the public, but is accepting telephone calls during normal business hours. Payments will be accepted by mail or through the mail slot. The Easter Egg Hunt is cancelled.

Buffalo Township

• Nar-Anon meetings at Generations House of Worship are canceled. Details: Laurie, 724-895-3385

Butler

Butler Lions Club has canceled the April membership and board meetings and the following events: the April 18 Adopt-A-Highway, the sausage sale and Mother’s Day rose sale. Membership meetings are tentatively scheduled to resume May 5.

Cheswick

April 11: The Cheswick-Springdale Lions Club Easter Egg hunt is canceled. Monthly club meetings are canceled.

Fawn

Saturday: The Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Center United Methodist Church is canceled.

Fox Chapel

April 14: The Fox Chapel Area Branch of The American Association of University Women meeting

Gilpin

The nut roll bake sale at Christ the King Parish is postponed and will be rescheduled.

Harrison

• Allegheny Valley Association of Churches office is closed. Anyone who needs assistance can call 724-226-0606. Tax appointments will be rescheduled.

Saturday: The Harrison Township Easter egg hunt

Tuesday: The Highlands Relay for Life meeting is canceled. The May 2 Night at the Races is postponed possibly until September.

Tuesday: The Disabled American Veterans meeting is canceled.

April 10: The Allegheny Valley Association of Churches community Good Friday service is canceled.

April 25: The Earth Day Clean-up is postponed.

Leechburg

Leechburg Recycling Center is closed. There will be no pick-ups or drop-offs until further notice. No materials should be dropped off in front of the recycling center gate.

First United Methodist Church: worship services are canceled until further notice.

Sunday: The Leechburg Area Pool Board meeting will be for board members only. All volunteering has been put on hold. Anyone with questions and/or concerns can post a message at Facebook.com/Leechburg.Pool/.

April 9: The Leechburg Public Library Board meeting is canceled.

Friday: The fish fries at Leechburg Volunteer Fire Department are canceled for the rest of the season.

Mondays: The GriefShare group sessions at First Evangelical Lutheran Church are postponed and will be rescheduled.

Lower Burrell

• The City of Lower Burrell Egg Hunt

• Entertainment and events at the Veterans of Foreign Wars are canceled and the club is closed.

Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church: is closed for all activities and services.

May 9: The Burrellton Garden Club May Mart is canceled.

New Kensington

Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church has canceled all Sunday services and church activities. Food bank service for April is canceled.

St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church is closed for all services, fundraisers and activities.

Mondays, Tuesday and Saturdays: The Community Clothes Closet will be closed.

Fridays: The vegan Lenten lunches at St. George Orthodox Church are canceled.

Parks Township

May 2: Parks Township Sportsman’s Association has canceled the Kids Fishing Day.

Penn Hills 

Saturday: The annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the William McKinley Citizens Center

Plum

Plum Community Center is closed and all events canceled. Meals on Wheels will continue as scheduled. Those over 60 who are food insecure or rely on the daily lunch can continue to pick up Congregant Lunch provided by the county on a take-out basis only. Pick-ups will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Lunches must be ordered a day in advance by calling 412-795-2330.

Oakmont

Riverview Community Action Corp. is closed for all activities except home delivered meals. Questions: 412-828-1062

Saxonburg

Monday: The GFWC Saxonburg District Woman’s Club meeting and the board meeting

South Buffalo

Friday: The South Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry is canceled.

Tarentum

• BridgePoint Church: Activities at the church, including the grief support group, and the children’s food and fun event are canceled. A live stream of the Sunday church service will be on Facebook Live.

• Saturday: The Rabies Clinic at Summit Hose Company is canceled, and will be rescheduled in the fall.

April 14: The Produce to People distribution is canceled.

• Tarentum Eagles is closed.

• Tarentum Elks Lodge is closed. Entertainment, bingo and the May 2 cash bash are canceled.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars is closed and there will be no Friday night bar bingo.

• The Heritage Museum will be closed to visitors until further notice. Details: AKVHS.org or 724-224-7666

Vandergrift

St. Gertrude Church spaghetti dinners are canceled until further notice.

Vandergrift Public Library: the due date for all materials that have been checked out has been extended. If you log into your online account and notice an item with a different due date, please contact the library. The Book Drop is closed. Keep all materials until the library reopens. Tax forms have now been placed into the Little Free Library since the library is closed. AARP Tax Appointments have been postponed and representatives will contact clients directly who have an upcoming appointment.

April 21: The Miss Freddye and Musicians in Unity concert at the Casino Theater is canceled. For refunds, call 724-567-5049 if paid by cash or check. Credit card refunds will be issued to your card.

Washington Township

Sunday: The Spring Swap meet at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Hall is canceled. All hall rentals are postponed.

April 18: The Star Party planned by the Amateur Astronomy Association of Pittsburgh is canceled.

West Deer

Sunday: The Easter Egg Hunt planned by the township Parks and Recreation Board is canceled.

East Union Presbyterian Church: all services and activities are canceled, except for West Deer Food Bank and Meals To Go distributions.

West Leechburg

April 18: The Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania at the West Leechburg Native Plant Preserve is canceled.