The Stroller, March 17, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Neighbors helping neighbors. Its all here in today’s Stroller:

Drive-through food distribution set at Lernerville Speedway

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will host a drive-through food distribution for anyone in need from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Lernerville Speedway, 313 N. Pike Road, Buffalo Township. No cars are permitted to arrive before 11 a.m.

Reservations are required to ensure enough food is available and they fill up quickly. To make a reservation, visit pittsburghfoodbank.org/drive-up/butler/ or call 412-460-3663, ext. 655. Have your license plate number of the car you will be in at the event, name, email, zip code, date of birth and current weekly income on hand. Bring your confirmation page or email for your reservation to the event. There is no required proof of eligibility and anyone is eligible for food.

Individuals must remain in their vehicle. After pulling up to the distribution area, recipients should put their car in park and unlock the trunk or backseat for the food the be loaded.

Animal Protectors offers community pet pantry

Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley in New Kensington has a community pet pantry that offers free pet food to those in need.

Wet and dry dog and cat food is available. Stop in from noon to 6 p.m. and ring the doorbell at the backdoor of the shelter, 730 Church St., or call 724-339-7388.

Local food drive planned through March 24

To celebrate her 11^th birthday, Alexis Faltot of Natrona Heights, Harrison, is partnering with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank by sponsoring a food drive through March 24 to help the hungry in our community.

Items most needed include canned fruit packed in 100 percent juice, low sodium vegetables, beans and soup; tuna and chicken; whole grain cereal, oats and pasta, peanut butter and paper products.

Donations can be taken to the following locations:

• MJ Cares, 1701 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, Harrison.

• Community Market, 1710 Pacific Ave., Natrona Heights.

• Highland Tire, 1701 Broadview Blvd., and 1707 Freeport Road, both in Natrona Heights; and 200 Boyd St., Tarentum.

To make a monetary contribution, visit pittsburghfoodbank.org/ and click on the red Donate Now button.

Drug recovery webinar offered

“Race and Recovery,” a webinar about supporting equity in recovery and treatment for opioid use disorder, will be at noon March 23 online at Zoom.us.

Speakers will include Laurie Johnson-Wade, co-founder and executive director of Lost Dreams Awakening in New Kensington and Jennifer Smith, secretary of the Pa. Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

To register, click here.

Dollar Dinner planned today in Vandergrift

Vandergrift United Methodist Church, 134 Custer Ave., will host a takeout Dollar Dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. or until sold out today at the church. This month’s menu includes shepherd’s pie, apple sauce, cookie and drink, all for $1. Come early; the food sells out quickly.

Pickup is on the Lincoln Avenue side of the church.

Calendar

Apollo

March 28, April 3, April 4: St. James Parish is sponsoring a Spring Fling cash raffle. Cost: $10, include two three-digit numbers. Winning numbers will be the 7 p.m. Pa. Lottery Pick 3 number. Prizes: March 28, $500; April 3, $500; and April 4, $1,500. Tickets: Linda, 724-882-8776

April 10: Table applications are being accepted for a vendor fair planned for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parish center at St. James Parish, 109 Owens View Ave. Cost: $15; with electricity, $20. Face masks and social distancing required. Details: Linda, 724-882-8776

Arnold

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

Brackenridge

Thursday: Bingo will be hosted by the American Legion at 7:15 p.m. at the post, 845 First Ave. Face masks must be worn. Seating arrangements will reflect social distancing. The kitchen will be closed.

Cadogan

March 28: St. Lawrence Catholic Church is accepting orders for a drive-thru cooked cabbage roll sale. Cost: 6 for $15. Orders required by Sunday. Pick up: 4 to 6 p.m. March 28 at the church. Cash or checks accepted, payable at pick up. Orders: 724-763-4159 or 724-763-3205 or click here.

Freeport

Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays, noon to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Cash only. Donations must be laundered and free from pet hair. Details: 724-295-3095

March 23: St. Mary Mother of God Church, 608 High St., will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. in the church hall. A donation will be made on behalf of each donor to the local food bank. Appointments recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000 or visit the Donate Now button at Vitalant.org and use group code G0040286

Gilpin

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

Harmar

Thursday: Harmar Supervisors will conduct the regular meeting at 6 p.m. online at Zoom.us. Access information: harmartownship-pa.gov/ or 724-274-4550

Harrison  

Today: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open to anyone in need from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Pull into the center parking lot and food will be placed into your vehicle. Those who are not yet registered should come from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Through April 3: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will sponsor a coloring contest for children in observation of National Library Week. Coloring pages are available at alleghenyvalleylibrary.org or in the library lobby, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Entries will be displayed in the lobby. A mystery prize will be awarded. Deadline: April 3

Kiski Township 

April 1: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department is accepting orders for pies and nut logs 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 and nut logs, all $9.50; nut logs and pecan pies, $12. Paid orders due Friday. Pickup: April 1 at the firehall. Details and orders: call or text Morgan, 724-466-2812

Kittanning 

Aug. 5 to 8: The Fort Armstrong Folk Festival is accepting space applications from vendors. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Aug. 5, noon to 10 p.m. Aug. 6 and 7, and noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 8. Vendors in the artists market must offer handmade goods. Food vendors can be for-profit or non-profit organizations. Applications: armstrongfestival.com/vendors. Information: info@armstrongfestival.com. Deadline: June 30 or when sold out

Leechburg  

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.

April 1: Tickets are on sale for a No Foolin’ Lottery Scratch-off Ticket Raffle to benefit Leechburg Area Community Association and Leechburg Public Library. Winner receives one roll of $20 and one roll of $10 scratch-off tickets. Cost: $5, includes two numbers. Winning number will be the 7 p.m. April 1 Pick 3 number. Tickets: stop in at the library, 139 Market St.

April 17: Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company is accepting applications for vendors for an outside Rally on the River set for noon to 6 p.m. at the firemen’s grounds, 268 Canal St. Vendors are responsible for their own signs, tables, chairs and tent. No electricity available. No yard sale tents. Cost: $25 for a 25 x 25-foot area. Details: Melissa, 724-332-9090 or Kari, 724-309-6143

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. Thursday at the café, 1011 Barnes St. This week’s meals are sponsored by the St. George Church Myrrh Bearing Women. Those picking up meals are reminded to observe social distancing while they wait in line.

March 31: A quilt raffle will benefit Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue in New Kensington and Black Cat Cat Rescue in Pittsburgh. The quilt is 37 x 37-inches and includes a hanging rod. The drawing will be March 31. For a photo, visit Frankie’s Friends on Facebook. Cost: $5. Tickets: email frankiesfriendscatrescue@gmail.com

May 29: TryLife Center is accepting crafter and vendor applications for a fair set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Quality Inn, 300 Tarentum Bridge Road. Details: assistant@trylife.center or 724-339-9399, ext. 105

North Apollo

April 10: North Apollo Volunteer Fire Department will host a virtual cash bash at noon on Facebook. Cost: $10 for two numbers. Winners will be notified. Tickets: Venmo@NorthApollo-VFD, Fox’s Pizza in Apollo or call 724-596-7293

Parks

Thursday: Parks Township Sportmen’s Club will have its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the club, 1111 Shipman Road. New members welcome. Details: 724-845-2390 from 9 a.m. to noon.

April 10: Pawz for Cure animal charity is accepting reservations for tables and food trucks and gift basket donations for a craft and vendor show planned 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Parks Volunteer Fire Department, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Cost: tables, $25 or two for $35; food trucks, $50. Reservations and details: Joni, 724-681-5935

Springdale 

Friday: Springdale Free Public Library is taking orders for summer reading t-shirts. Cost: $6. Sizes: toddler 2T and 4T; youth S, M and L; and adult S, M, L and XL. The summer reading program will be in-person in Rachel Carson Park, Cheswick. This year’s theme will be Tails & Tales. Payments and orders are due Friday. Details: 724-274-9729

March 23: The Tuesday Night Book Club at Springdale Free Public Library will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the library, 331 School St. The selection will be, “The Chaperone,” by Laura Moriarty. Copies are available at the library. Reservations and face masks required. Reservations: 724-274-9729

March 27: Springdale Free Public Library will offer a virtual cookie decorating program for children at 11 a.m. online at Zoom.us. Registration and an email address required. Come to the library to pick up your free take and make kit. Registration: 724-274-9729 or email springdale2020journal@gmail.com.

Vandergrift 

Thursday: St. Gertrude Church will sell frozen meatballs and spaghetti sauce from 4 to 6 p.m. by curbside pickup at the church social hall, 303 Franklin Ave. Cost: sauce, $7 per quart; meatballs, six for $3. Please enter the driveway near Sandra Lynn’s Dance School and follow the arrows to the social hall door. Items will also be available after the Saturday and Sunday Masses at the church while supplies last.

Through March 31: Vandergrift Public Library will hold a Luck O’ The Irish book sale at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Choose from various themed or author-styled books or DVD bundles selected by library staff. Prices vary. Hours: 2 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays. Profits will be used for library operating expenses.

Washington Township

March 28: Space applications are being accepted for an auto parts swap meet set for 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co., Route 66. Cost: 12 x 24-foot space, $25; 12 x 48-foot space, $45; inside 32-foot space, $55. Vendor set up will begin at 11 p.m. March 27. First come, first served. Items will include parts and accessories from anything automotive, classic, high performance, trucks, cars, motorcycles or boats. Food and beverages will be sold inside. Reservations and details: 724-727-3079, leave a message