Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller.

New Kensington Christmas events slated Friday, Saturday

The annual New Kensington Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday in downtown followed by the Mayor’s Christmas Dinner at 6 p.m. in the Fourth Avenue firehall.

The holiday parade and Cookie Crawl will be Saturday in downtown. The parade will be from 11 a.m. to noon and the Cookie Crawl and horse & carriage rides will be from noon to 3 p.m.

Gift cards wanted by Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center

The Alle-Kiski Area Hope Center is requesting donations of gift cards from various vendors.

Cards for Sheetz or Giant Eagle help clients who may need gasoline to get to work or doctor’s appointments. Other cards from coffee shops, restaurants and online companies are used by the HOPE Center for raffles and help HOPE personnel advocates attract attention to their information table at events.

Cards can be mailed to the center at P.O. Box 67, Tarentum PA 15084 or taken to the administration building, 500 E. Eighth Ave., Tarentum, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. For questions, call 724-224-1100.

Calendar

Apollo

Wednesday: Apollo Hose Company No. 2 will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Cost: $25 per packet. The kitchen will be open with a limited menu. Details: 724-478-4831.

Arnold

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its weekly pierogi sale. Varieties: potato or sauerkraut, $14 per dozen. Pickup: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Fridays in the church social hall. Orders: 724-339-9257, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Bethel Township

Dec. 8: The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek will present “The Clever Corvid,” a program about the family of the American crow, raven and blue jay at 6 p.m. at the center, 142 Kerr Road. All ages welcome. Cost: $5. Reservations required. Reservations: armstrongodc.org.

Brackenridge

Wednesday: Al-Anon will meet at 8 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 847 10th Ave. The group offers help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics.

East Deer

Today: The Pittsburgh Huskies youth hockey team will conduct a fundraiser and canned food collection at 7 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Brewing Company’s Hockey Night on the Big Screen with Mark Madden at the brewery taproom, 150 Ferry St. Doors open at 6 p.m. A prize raffle and 50-50 will benefit the Huskies. BYO snacks. No outside beverages permitted. All ages welcome and admission and parking are free. Wear your Penguins gear.

East Vandergrift  

Saturday: Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish is selling tickets for a St. Nicholas Day lottery raffle. Winning numbers will be the first drawn Pennsylvania Daily Pick 3 numbers at 1:30 and 7 p.m. on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. Winners will each receive $1,000 and a $100 gift certificate to Naser Foods. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: Patricia, 724-568-3409 or Deborah, 724-859-3186, in the parish office.

Freeport

Wednesdays: The Blessing Closet at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All items are free, but donations will be accepted. Items available include clothing of all sizes, bedding and window items. Donations of clothing, shoes and boots welcome; must be laundered and free from smoke and pet hair. Wheelchair accessible. Details: 724-295-3095.

Harrison   

Tuesday: The Accordion Club will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at 6003 Freeport Road. New members welcome. Details: 724-236-0665.

Tuesdays: A story time for children age 3 to 5 will be at 10 a.m. at Community Library of Allegheny Valley, 1522 Broadview Blvd. No registration required.

Wednesday: The Agape Thrift Shop at Grace United Methodist Church, 1333 Freeport Road, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Clean clothing in all sizes is needed. No housewares or bedding please. Bring donations on Wednesday or leave them on the front porch. Do not place donations in the blue bins behind the church.

Wednesday: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Food bank participants can receive food allotments twice per month. Those who are not yet registered should come from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Sparrow’s Nest clothing and home goods ministry will be open from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Details and alternate times: 724-226-0606, ext. 10.

Wednesday: The Becky’s Closet community clothing store at Faith Lutheran Church, 1500 Broadview Blvd., will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Cost: adult tops and bottoms, 50 cents; children’s clothing, 25 cents. Please bring small bills and your own bags. Donations welcome during these hours. Everyone welcome.

Dec. 3: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will host a workshop to make giftable hot cocoa ornaments at 6 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Youth in fifth to 12th grade welcome. Reservations required. Reservations: alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Friday : Christ Our Hope Church, 926 Painter Ave., will host a community Christmas party from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church. Dinner will be served and there will be crafts, activities and a video about the meaning of Christmas. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-895-3105.

Dec. 11: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will offer an adult paint class fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Cost: $10, includes all supplies. BYO snacks and beverages. The subject will be a holiday ornament. Reservations: Alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Jan. 17: Tri-County Trout Club is accepting table reservations for its annual sport show and flea market planned at Patterson Hall at Guardian Angels Parish, 800 Montana Ave. Vendors must sell new, used or collectable fishing, hunting, camping or sports items. Cost: $25. Details: 412-298-0964 or tctcnews@gmail.com, leave a message with your name and phone number.

Leechburg   

Today: Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will host bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 268 Canal St. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open.

Dec. 13: A Christmas bingo will be hosted at Leechburg Volunteer Firehall, 268 Canal St. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and food will be served at 4 p.m. Early bird bingo will begin at 4:30 p.m. Cost: $35 in advance; at the door, $40; include 20 games that pay $75, four specials that pay $200 and a light meal. There will be a $300 early bird jackpot, a $1,000 regular jackpot game and 50-50. Details: Melissa, 724-332-9090. Tickets: lvfc150.square.site or at Monday night bingo.

Lower Burrell

Wednesday: Redemption Church, 3400 Garvers Ferry Road, will offer a GriefShare Surviving the Holidays program for anyone who has lost a loved one from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church. Details: Brenda Heinz, 412-398-1622.

Through Dec. 31: The works of members of the Allegheny Valley League of Artists will be on display during operating hours at Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter Ave. Details: 724-339-1021.

New Kensington   

Dec. 31: Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley is selling 2026 lottery calendar tickets. Tickets are $25 and include one number for each day of the year. Special number requests will be granted if the number is available. Tickets: jlessig@animalprotectors.net or animalprotectors.net.

Wednesday: A veterans service officer will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the office of state Rep. Jill Cooper, 356 Freeport St., suite 100. Services available will include disability and pension claims, benefit questions, assisting spouses with survivor benefits issues and applications for veterans grants. Appointments will be accepted, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments: 724-472-4102.

Oakmont

Tuesdays: Taking Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) meets at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. Private weigh-ins will be from 5:45 to 6:10 p.m. and the meeting will be afterward. The first meeting is free. Details: 412-828-3854 or jmjkwj@gmail.com.

Plum   

Tuesdays: The Plum Food Pantry, 81 Sandune Drive, distributes free food from 4:30 to 6 p.m. the first three Tuesdays of each month. Recipients in need must stop in at the pantry to be confirmed/verified. Details: 724-327-0367.

Through Dec. 25: Allegheny County Parks Department is sponsoring a holiday food drive for local food banks. Non-perishables can be taken from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays to the Four Seasons Lodge in Boyce Park.

Saxonburg

Today: Bingo will begin at 7 p.m. in the ballroom of Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, 210 Horne Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m. The kitchen will be open.

Springdale 

Today : The Geraldine Yanni Science program for children in second through sixth grade at Springdale Free Public Library will offer a free program, “Science of Toys” with Mad Science of Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. at the library, 331 School St. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Dec. 10: Springdale Free Public Library is accepting orders for a TNT hoagie sale. Varieties: Italian, ham & cheese and turkey. Cost: $10 for a 13-inch sandwich. Order deadline: Dec. 10. Pickup: Dec. 17. Orders: 724-274-9729 or stop in at the library, 331 School St.

Tarentum

Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St.

Wednesday: Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., will offer free fresh food and hygiene kits at noon and 4 p.m. while supplies last. There are no income guidelines and everyone is welcome.

Wednesday: The Elks will host bingo at 6:30 p.m. at the lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. The kitchen is open to the public from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Menu: elks644.org/attaboys-kitchen. Orders: 724-226-1644 by 8:15 p.m.

Wednesdays and Saturdays: The Alle-Kiski Valley Historical Society, 224 E. Seventh Ave., is open from noon to 3 p.m. and other times by appointment. An evening of scrapbooking will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Bring your own supplies or trade with a friend. Details: 724-224-7666.

Washington Township

Tuesdays and Thursdays: The Blessing Closet at Union Presbyterian Church will be open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the church, 656 Route 380. Items available include paper products, cleaning supplies, feminine hygiene products and pet supplies. Appointments: 724-337-3042.

Wednesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 6 p.m. at Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380.

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