The Stroller, Feb. 7, 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.

Free photography workshops offered

The New Kensington Camera Club and Focus on the Arts Gallery will offer a series of free workshops to the public.

A Beginner’s Guide to Getting the Most Out of Your Digital Camera will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 18 in suite 208 at Pittsburgh Mills Mall, Frazer. Use Entry 2 by M@C Discount. Donna Weckerly will be the instructor.

Reservations are encouraged, but not required. For equipment requirements and to reserve a spot, put a comment on the event posting at Focus On The Arts Gallery on Facebook.

Calendar

Apollo

Wednesdays and Saturdays: Apollo Area Historical Society Museum, 317 N. Second St., is closed for the season. Visits are available by appointment. Appointments: 724-478-2849 or 724-212-9255.

Wednesday: 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.

Thursday: The Yarn Good Time needle arts group at Apollo Memorial Library will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. at the library, 219 N. Pennsylvania Ave. to knit, crochet, embroider or cross stitch. All ages and skill levels welcome. Details: 724-478-4214.

May 20: Apollo Events Committee is accepting reservations from vendors and food trucks for its annual May Daze celebration set for noon to 6 p.m. in Apollo Plaza. Cost: vendors, $25; food trucks, $50. Flea market spaces are available for $10. Rain date: May 21.

Arnold

Today: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., will sponsor a bingo night. Doors open at 6 p.m. There is a $1,000 jackpot game with a $500 consolation prize. Pierogi, snacks, drinks, daubers and extra packages will be sold. Admission: $25.

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.

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

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

Cadogan

Saturday: The Cadogan Community Park Committee will sell lasagna dinners from 4 to 6 p.m. at the township building, 333 First Ave. Menu: lasagna, salad, bread and dessert, $12. Dine in or takeout. Order deadline: Tuesday. Orders: Jeanne Richardson, 724-902-7156; or Dave Round, 724-902-7287.

East Vandergrift 

Saturday : Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church, East Vandergrift, will have a cash bash at 7 p.m. in the church social hall, 411 McKinley Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. Admission: $25, includes food and beverages. Drawings will be every 15 minutes. There will be pull tabs, a basket auction and 50/50 drawings. Must be at least 21. Tickets: Crystal, 724-882-9212 and after Sunday Mass in the church vestibule.

Freeport

Wednesday: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from noon to 3 p.m. 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 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: Tarentum Area Lions Club will meet at the Anchor Inn, Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Members can order dinner at their own expense at 6 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6:45. New members welcome.

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

Wednesday: Faith Lutheran Church, 1500 Broadview Blvd., will host a Becky’s Closet community clothing store from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Clothing available at very low cost. Donations welcome during this time.

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. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or visit the calendar section at AlleghenyValleyLibrary.org.

Wednesday: 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.

Thursday: The Friends of Community Library of Allegheny Valley will meet at 10 a.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Details: 724-226-3491.

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. online for the winter months. Details: tinyurl.com/yp6hd8zn.

New Kensington

Today and Saturday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., will be open from noon to 2 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Items available include clothing for all members of the family, shoes and linens. First-time customers receive 15 free items. Winter clothing donations are welcome during business hours.

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.

Thursday: 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 café, 1011 Barnes St. This week’s meals were sponsored by St. George Orthodox Church. Details: 878-847-7997.

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.

Oakmont 

Today: Taking Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) meets at 6 p.m. at Oakmont United Methodist Church, 419 Maryland Ave. Monthly dues: $5; first meeting is free. Details: vrevilla@pointpark.edu.

Wednesday : Oakmont Carnegie Library will host a story time for children age 3 to 5 with their caregiver from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the library, 700 Allegheny River Blvd. The theme will be Valentine’s Day. Each child will receive a themed craft bag to take home. Reservations recommended. Reservations: visit the calendar section at oakmontlibrary.org.

Feb. 15: Oakmont Carnegie Library will host a story time for children age 3 to 5 with their caregiver from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the library, 700 Allegheny River Blvd. The theme will be winter sports. Each child will receive a themed craft bag to take home. Reservations recommended. Reservations: visit the calendar section at oakmontlibrary.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, 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 on Thursday.

Feb. 9: Springdale Free Public Library, 331 School St., will host an AARP Tax Assistance group for tax season. Appointments will be Thursdays and Saturdays Feb. 9 through April 13. Intake forms are available. Appointments required. Details: 724-274-9729.

Feb. 15: Springdale Free Public Library will offer a craft workshop to make a rainbow wreath at 1 p.m. at the library, 331 School St. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

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.

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.

Vandergrift

February: Vandergrift Public Library, 128C Washington Ave., will have a $3 per bag book sale through the end of February at the library. Bags will be provided. Audio books, DVDs and puzzles are excluded from the bag sale and will be sold buy one, get one free.

Wednesday: Vandergrift Public Library and Pa. CareerLink Alle-Kiski will offer help with resume building, interview skills and earning a GED from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the library, 128C Washington Ave. No appointment required. Details: vandergriftlibrarydirector@gmail.com.

Wednesday : A toddler story time will be at 11 a.m. at Vandergrift Public Library, 128C Washington Ave. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-568-2212.

Washington Township

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

Wednesday: Poke Run Presbyterian Church will host its free monthly Soup for the Soul luncheon at noon at the church, 1091 Poke Run Church Road. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The event is the second Wednesday of the month and runs through May. Details: 724-327-5563.

West Deer

Wednesday: East Union Presbyterian Church will have a takeout spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church, 292 East Union Road. Menu: spaghetti with choice of meat, meatball or mushroom sauce, salad, rolls and dessert. Donations will be accepted. Details: 724-265-1381.