The Stroller, Dec. 12, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

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.

Live Nativity planned in Tarentum

Abundant Joy Fellowship will sponsor a live Nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the church, 101 Allegheny St., Tarentum.

There will be cookies and hot chocolate, caroling and a petting zoo. For details, call 724-224-5715.

Free meals available at Knead Community Cafe

Knead Community Café in New Kensington will hand out free grab-and-go meals from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the cafe, 1011 Barnes St., New Kensington.

This week’s meals are sponsored by the Second Tuesday Book Club. For information, call 878-847-7997.

Calendar

Apollo

Today: Apollo Memorial Library is offering amnesty from fines for all overdue books through Dec. 12. Patrons can return overdue books without paying a fine. Details: 724-478-4214.

Wednesday: Apollo Hose Co. No. 2 will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There will be specials and wish jars. Details: 724-478-4831.

Dec. 26 to Jan. 6: St. James Parish is selling tickets for a 12-day lottery giveaway. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. The winning numbers will be the first officially drawn 7 p.m. Pa. Lottery Pick-3 number from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6. Prizes will include cash and a variety of gift cards to local restaurants and businesses. Tickets: Linda, 724-882-8776, in the parish office or after weekend Masses in the church vestibule.

Arnold

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

Bethel

Dec. 21: The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek will present a winter solstice program for children at 6 p.m. at the center, 142 Kerr Road. Children will make a simple lantern that will be taken on a short winter hike and hot cocoa will be served. Cost: $7. 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.

Thursday: The Allegheny Valley Salvation Army and Community Center will distribute free grab-and-go lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the center parking lot, 917 Brackenridge Ave. Free grocery items from Walmart and Aldi will be available. Everyone is welcome.

Freeport

Wednesday: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry 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.

Gilpin

Thursday: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7:15 p.m. at the firehall, 113 Firehall Road.

Harrison

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. Clothing will be available at very low cost. Donations welcome during these hours.

Wednesday: The Anime Club at Community Library of Allegheny Valley, 1522 Broadview Blvd., will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the library. Focused for adults, but teens who are at least in ninth grade welcome. Students younger than 18 must provide a permission slip. Permission slips are available at the library. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or AlleghenyValleyLibrary.org.

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 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 due to lack of space. Bring donations on Wednesday or leave them on the front porch. Do not place donations in the blue bins behind the church.

Thursday: Friends of Allegheny Valley Community Library will meet at 10 a.m. in the library community room, 1522 Broadview Blvd. New members are welcome and there is no membership fee.

Jefferson

Today: Concordia at Cabot sponsors a free monthly caregiver support group at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the Lund Care Center private dining room, 134 Marwood Road. Use Entrance 4. Anyone who cares for a loved one with a physical problem or diminished reasoning skills at home is welcome. Details: Stefanie Dietrich, 724-352-1571, ext. 8271.

Thursday: Bingo will be at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 754 N. Pike Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit post and auxiliary projects.

Kiski Township

Today: The diaper pantry at Spring Church Lutheran Church, 3623 Lutheran Church Road, will distribute diapers from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church. Distributions will be the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Recipients must register in advance. First-time recipients must provide their own ID, the child’s birth certificate and a current WIC or SNAP card. Registration: 724-478-1528.

Lower Burrell

Thursday: Redemption Church, 232 Hillcrest Drive, will offer a GriefShare support group for anyone who has lost a loved one at 6:30 p.m. This is the last session of the series. Reservations appreciated, but not required. Reservations: GriefShare.org.

New Kensington

Thursday: New Kensington Eagles Auxiliary Bingo will be at 7 p.m. at the aerie, 2134 Freeport Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Public welcome. Details: 724-448-7403.

Oakmont

Today: 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.

Parks

Today: Champions Crusaiders Rescue will sponsor Christmas photos with Santa from 5 to 8 p.m. at the rescue, 2687 River Road. Pets welcome. Donations will be accepted. Supply your email and photos will be emailed.

Springdale

Thursday: The diaper pantry at St. Mark Lutheran Church will distribute free diapers from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church, 600 Pittsburgh St. Recipients must register in advance. First-time recipients must provide their own ID, the child’s birth certificate and a current WIC or SNAP card. Distributions will be the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Registration: 724-274-5313.

Thursday: Lower Valley Community Food Bank will distribute food from 1 to 3 p.m. at the rear entrance of the Springdale borough building, 325 School St. Do not arrive before 12:45 p.m. Anyone in need of food who lives in Springdale, Springdale Township, Cheswick, Harmar and the sections of Indiana Township and West Deer with a zip code of 15024 is welcome. New recipients can register Thursday.

Tarentum

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/elks-kitchen-1. 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. Details: 724-224-7666.

Thursday: The Deer Lakes High School Strings, under the direction of Leeann Scholl, will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. at the Alle-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum, 224 E. Seventh Ave.

Vandergrift  

Today: The YoYos Needle Arts group at Vandergrift Public Library will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the library reading room, 128C Washington Ave. No reservations required; just stop in. All skill levels welcome; however, this is not an instructional program. Details: 724-568-2212.

Wednesday: The Anime Club for children in fifth through 10^th grade at Vandergrift Public Library will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Details: 724-568-2212.

Dec. 31: Vandergrift Public Library is conducting a 100,000 penny collection challenge through the end of the year. Bring your pennies to the library, 128C Washington Ave., or TinyCause or Champion’s Crusaders Rescue. Funds raised will be split between the three organizations.

Washington Township

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