The Stroller, Dec. 14, 2022: 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.

Santa to visit Washington Township

Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company will escort Santa Claus through the township Saturday evening, weather permitting.

The procession will leave the fire hall between 4 and 4:30 p.m. and go north to the Paulton area, south to Wellington Estates and finish in Washington Acres.

Christmas dinner information wanted

Is your church or organization offering a free meal on Christmas? Let The Stroller help to get the word out to those who may spend the holiday alone.

Send information as soon as possible to The Stroller at vndnews@triblive.com or 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084.

Free dinner and carol sing planned in Lower Burrell

Trinity United Christian Church, Lower Burrell, will have a free dinner and carol sing at 6 p.m. Dec. 22 at the church, 3400 Garvers Ferry Road.

Reservations are required by Friday. For reservations, call or text 412-313-3482.

Calendar

Apollo

Today: Apollo Hose Co. No. 2 will host 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.

Wednesdays and Saturdays: Apollo Area Historical Society Museum, 317 N. Second St., is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations of paper towels, stamps, envelopes, cleaning supplies, colored copy paper and trash bags are welcome. Details: ApolloPAHistory@gmail.com.

Dec. 31: Tickets are on sale for a New Year’s Eve bingo set for 8 p.m. at Apollo Hose Company No. 2, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cost: $25 before Dec. 22; $30 at the door, includes hot dog and sauerkraut. Full kitchen will be available. There will be 17 regular games, four early birds, four specials, pull tabs and door prizes. Tickets: Shelby, 724-549-1601 or Gina, 724-594-6187.

Arnold

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

Sunday : Arnold Fire Station 95-1 and MJ Social Hall will host a Brunch with Santa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the social hall, 1735 Fourth Ave. Doors open at 10 am. Cost: $15, includes a craft, photo and gift. Tickets: 412-660-1174.

Bethel

Dec. 21: The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek, 142 Kerr Road, will host a winter solstice celebration at 6 p.m. at the center. There will be a workshop to make a lantern, a short illuminated hike, a story and hot cocoa. Donations accepted. Reservations required. Reservations and details: armstrongcenter.org/odc-events.

Brackenridge

Today: 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: Allegheny Health and Physical Medicine and Trinity United Methodist Church will have a Vitalant blood drive and Christmas cookie party from 1 to 6 p.m. at the medical office, 825 Freeport Road. Details: 724-224-2224 or dspale@alleghenyhealth.com.

Thursday: Bingo will begin at 7:15 p.m. at the American Legion, 845 First Ave.

Fawn

Saturday : Fawn Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 will have a Breakfast with Santa from 10 a.m. to noon at the social hall, 497 Lardintown Road. Cost: $10, includes breakfast, photo with Santa, crafts and face painting. There will be a basket raffle. Proceeds benefit the fire department. Tickets: fawnfireevents@gmail.com.

Freeport

Today: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from noon 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 fall and winter clothing, shoes and boots welcome. Donations must be laundered and free from pet hair. Handicap 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  

Today: 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. Details and alternate times: 724-226-0606, ext. 10.

Today: The Anime Club at Community Library of Allegheny County, 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. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or visit the calendar section at AlleghenyValleyLibrary.org.

Today: The Agape Thrift Shop at Grace United Methodist Church, 1333 Freeport Road, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Clean winter clothing in all sizes is needed. Masks optional. Bring donations on Wednesday or leave them on the front porch. Do not place donations in the blue bins behind the church.

Friday: Natrona Heights Veterans of Foreign Wars will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Lane. Doors open at 6 p.m., and there will be specials, a 50/50 raffle and final game jackpot.

Friday : Allegheny Valley Hospital Auxiliary will sell tickets for a lottery ticket raffle from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and Dec. 15 and 16 in the Carlisle Corner of the hospital cafeteria, 1301 Carlisle St. Cost: $1 each, cash only. Two winners will each receive a sealed package of 100 $1 Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off tickets. The drawing will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Proceeds benefit auxiliary projects for the hospital.

Jefferson

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

Leechburg

Thursday: A New Path Al-Anon Family Group, a free, confidential program for anyone whose life has been affected by someone else’s drinking, will meet at 7 p.m. in First United Methodist Church, 251 Main St.

McCandless

Today: The Sealarks Women’s Group will have a dinner at 1 p.m. at Memorial Park Church, 8800 Peebles Road. John Sarkas of the Skyliners will entertain. The group provides Christian fellowship and social activity for women who are widowed, divorced or never married. New members welcome. Details and reservations: Edie, 412-487-7194.

New Kensington

Thursday: Knead Community Café will host its monthly dine-in Breaking Bread Dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the café, 1011 Barnes St. This month’s meal will be a Christmas dinner and is sponsored in memory of Harry and Josephine Hont. No takeout meals will be available. Details: 878-847-7997.

Thursday: Heritage Hospice will host a free Grief Support group for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the center, 2400 Leechburg Road, building 300. The group meets the third Thursday of each month. Details: Amber, 724-334-6600 or amberhusar@heritagehospicepa.com.

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.

Thursdays: The Secular Organization for Sobriety/Save Our Selves (SOS), a support group for people recovering from alcohol and drug abuse, will meet at 7 p.m. at Lost Dreams Awakening Recovery Community Center, 408 Eighth St. Details: 724-556-0737.

Parks 

Thursday: Parks Township Sportsman Club Association will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the club, 1111 Shipman Road. New members welcome.

Saxonburg 

Today : An American Red Cross Blood community blood drive will be from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 572 W. Main St. Appointments: 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

Springdale

Thursday: Lower Valley Community Food Bank will distribute food from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday from the rear entrance of the Springdale borough building. 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 on Thursday.

Friday: The adult Scrapbooking Club at Springdale Free Public Library will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the library, 331 School St. Details: 724-274-9729.

Tarentum

Today: 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.

Today: Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St. will offer an Advent Bible study at the church. A community friendship meal will be served at 6 p.m. and the Bible study will be afterward. Details: 724-224-9220.

Thursday: The free diaper bank at Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One distribution per child per month is available. Details: 724-224-9006.

Weekdays: Free food and hygiene items are available at Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., suite 12. Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Details: 724-224-9006.

Upper Burrell 

Dec. 24: Upper Burrell Volunteer Fire Department and Vigilant Hose Company of Portvue are selling tickets for a $15,000 Christmas Cash Giveaway. Cost: $20 per ticket, includes eight numbers. The winning number will be taken from the 7 p.m. Dec. 24 Pennsylvania Pick 4 number. Details and tickets: ubvfc11training@gmail.com.

Vandergrift

Thursday and Friday: Victorian Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society will feature a display of photographs and memorabilia from Parks Township through Friday at the museum, 84 Sherman Ave. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Details: 724-568-1990.

Washington Township

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

Friday: Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 4078 Route 66. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and sales start at 6 p.m. Free coffee. The kitchen will be open. Players must be at least 18 or accompanied by an adult.