Is your church or organization going to host a community holiday event? Send information to The Stroller as soon as possible to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number.

Pajama Project seeks pajama donations

The Rotary Club of Leechburg and Interact Club of Leechburg Area High School are sponsoring the Pajama Project collection through Dec. 14 in the Leechburg area.

Donations of new pajamas in all sizes and men’s sleep pants will be accepted at the following locations: Sprankle’s Market, Coco Coffeehouse, Nextier Bank, Leechburg Floral, Kiski Valley Church of God, First Baptist Church, Leechburg Public Library, Tisha’s Salon and Spa Bar, the Moose and Elks lodges and the Leechburg High School nurse’s office, all in Leechburg; Christ the King Church, Hunt’s Hilltop Service and Kalmar Motors, all in Gilpin.

Monetary donations may be sent to the Rotary Club of Leechburg, P.O. Box 163, Leechburg PA 15656. Pajamas will be sent to HAVIN, Children Youth and Families of Armstrong County and the Mechling-Shakley Veterans Center.

St. Joseph High School accepting enrollments

St. Joseph High School, Harrison, is accepting enrollments for the Class of 2025 for the fall 2021-22 school year.

The placement test will be from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 12. Virtual tours of the school are available online at SaintJosephHS.com and private tours are available by appointment following covid-19 safety guidelines. Financial aid is available.

For details, contact admissions director Shane Palumbo at admissions@SaintJosephHS.com or 724-226-4932.

Annual West Deer toy drive underway

West Deer Police Department is sponsoring its 24th annual Toys for Children drive to benefit children age 1 to 14 living in low-income households in the Deer Lakes School District.

New toys can be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through Tuesday at the police department, 109 East Union Road. Monetary donations can be sent to West Deer Police Special Programs, 109 East Union Road, Cheswick PA 15024. Money will be used to purchase additional toys, winter clothing and wrapping paper supplies.

For information, email toysforchildren@westdeertownship.com.

Donate online to Salvation Army

The annual New Kensington Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign will be limited this year due to the pandemic.

With more people facing hardships, the need to serve those most vulnerable is greater than ever.

Online donations can be made at salarmy.us/NewKensingtonKettle.

Help available from HOPE Center hotline

If social distancing has forced you into an unsafe situation, help is available by calling the Alle-Kiski HOPE Center 24-hour hotline at 724-224-1266.

The hotline provides information about domestic violence, community resources, safety planning, support and more.

Calendar

Brackenridge 

Thursday: Brackenridge Council will conduct a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. online at Zoom.us to hear public comments on the Joint Comprehensive Plan with Brackenridge, Harrison and Tarentum. The regular council meeting will be immediately afterward. Access information: Brackenridgeboro.com

Harrison

Today: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open to anyone in need from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Pull into the center parking lot and food will be placed into your vehicle. Senior boxes are now being distributed Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. Those who are not yet registered should come after 3 p.m. Proof of income is no longer required. Donations: avaoc.org/donate/financial-support/

Dec. 8: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will offer a virtual presentation of, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” performed by Stage Right online at 6:30 p.m. Registration required. Access information will be emailed. Registration: 724-226-3491 or eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=ALVALLEY&curID=466653

Kiski Area School District

Today: Kiski Area School Board will hold the reorganization meeting at 7 p.m. online followed by the agenda meeting. Details and access information: 724-842-0457 or john.tedorski@kiskiarea.com

Kiski Township

Dec. 21: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department is accepting orders for pies, nut logs and pumpkin rolls from The Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown. Varieties: chocolate meringue, coconut meringue, lemon meringue, apple, dutch apple, blackberry, wild blueberry, razzleberry, cherry, peach, raisin, and pumpkin and pumpkin rolls, all $9.50; nut logs and pecan pies, $12. Paid orders due Dec. 9. Pickup: Dec. 21 at the firehall. Details and orders: call or text Morgan, 724-466-2812

Dec. 31: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Company is selling 2021 lottery calendars to benefit the company building fund. Cost: $30. Details: 724-478-4210

Leechburg  

Today: The free genealogy group at Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the museum, 118 First St. Basic computer skills required. Ancestry.com and Newspaper.com are available. Details: Judy, 724-681-9154

Thursdays: 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. Face masks and social distancing required.

Dec. 13: Leechburg Elks will host a vendor bingo at 1 p.m. at the lodge, 228 Market St. Doors open at noon. Admission: $20, includes 11 games with vendor prizes and one $250 must-go jackpot game. Food and beverages will be sold and there will be a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and small games of chance. Players must be at least 18 years old. Tickets: Ruth, 724-422-4913 or the lodge, 724-842-8071

Lower Burrell

Dec. 13: Lower Burrell Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary will hold its Christmas party at 1 p.m. at the post, Wildlife Lodge Road. All members welcome. Details and reservation information: see the post bulletin board.

New Kensington

Thursday: Knead Community Café in New Kensington will hand out free grab-and-go dinners from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the café, 1011 Barnes St. Arnold Furniture is this week’s sponsor. Those picking up meals are reminded to observe social distancing while they wait in line.

Oakmont

Dec. 9: A Vitalant community blood drive will be from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Oakmont Borough Building, 767 Fifth St. Appointments strongly recommended. Donations are tested for covid-19 antibodies. Appointments: 412-209-7000 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and search with group code C5300082

Tarentum

Today: Tarentum Elks will host bingo at 7 p.m. at the lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open.

Today: BridgePoint Church, 400 E. Ninth Ave., will host a parent-led learning pod from 1 to 4 p.m. in the church hall located on the lower level. Free high-speed internet, meals and access to the church children’s library will be provided. Use the Corbet Street entrance.

Upper Burrell

Today: Upper Burrell Supervisors will hold the regular meeting at 7 p.m. at the township building, 3735 Seventh St. Details: 724-335-3517

Vandergrift

Dec. 16: A Holly Jolly Holiday basket raffle will take place through Dec. 16 to benefit Vandergrift Public Library. The prize will include a gift certificate for a whole fresh turkey from Pounds Turkey Farm in Allegheny Township, gift cards from Oakmont Bakery and Shop N’ Save, Sweetlane Chocolate, holiday drink ware and wine, holiday décor and more. Cost: $5; or three for $10. Ticket sales close at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 and the drawing will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 16 on Facebook. Tickets: stop in at the library, 128C. Washington Ave., or visit Venmo online.

Cancellations

Apollo

Thursday: The Apollo Area Historical Society meeting is canceled and the museum closed for the winter.

Brackenridge

Thursdays: American Legion bingo is canceled until further notice.

Gilpin

Thursdays: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department bingo is canceled until further notice. Takeout food will be sold from 5 to 7 p.m. Menu: visit the department Facebook page.

Kiski Township

Today: Kiski Township Supervisors agenda meeting is canceled due to a lack of a quorum. The regular meeting will be Dec. 9.

Thursday: Kiski Township Planning Commission meeting is canceled.

East Deer

Thursday: East Deer Commissioners agenda meeting is canceled. The regular meeting will be Dec. 10.

New Kensington

Saturday: The Ladies Day planned at Knead Community Café is canceled.

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