The Stroller, Nov. 17, 2025: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller.

Toy collection to benefit Toys for Tots

A Stuff A Cruise event to benefit Toys For Tots will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Walmart Supercenter, 100 Highlands Mall Drive in Harrison.

Sponsored by Southern Armstrong Regional and Harrison police departments, the drive will collect new, unwrapped toys and monetary donations.

Donations welcome for Thanksgiving food baskets

East Union Presbyterian Church in West Deer is collecting donations to prepare Thanksgiving food baskets for those in need in the community.

A donation of $70 will purchase a whole basket, but contributions of any amount are welcome. Cash, checks and Venmo are accepted.

Volunteers are needed at 8 a.m. Saturday to assemble baskets. No job is too small and everyone is welcome. For more information, call 724-265-1381 or visit eastunionchurch.org.

Calendar

Apollo

Wednesday: Apollo Hose Company 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.

Arnold

Today: St. Vladimir Church will host bingo at 7 p.m. in the church hall, 1601 Kenneth Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. Game payouts are determined by the attendance. Cost: $26.

Tuesday: A free dinner will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Tomb, 1821 Fifth Ave. Everyone welcome.

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its weekly pierogi sale. Varieties: potato or sauerkraut, $14 per dozen. Pickup: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Fridays in the church social hall. 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.

Wednesday: Brackenridge Improvement Group and Friends of the Riverfront will plant trees from noon to 3 p.m. in Riverfront Park, First Avenue. Food and beverages will be served. Volunteers welcome.

Butler County

Dec. 3 to Jan. 21: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will offer a free, eight-week online education program for family members and friends of adults living with mental health conditions. Topics will include anxiety, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, problem solving, treatment and recovery. Sessions will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays on Zoom. Reservations required by 1 p.m. Nov. 26. Reservations: namibutler.org.

Cheswick

Wednesday and Thursday: A veterans service officer will be available by appointment at the office of Rep. Mandy Steele, 1296 Pittsburgh St. Services available include state benefits, burial and survivor benefits, enrollment in the VA health care system and more. Reservations: 724-826-5151.

East Franklin

Today: Armstrong County Republican Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Complex banquet room, 415 Butler Road. A post-election analysis of the results will be presented. Bring a covered dish or snack to share after the meeting. Details: Darlene Smail, 724-902-2244 or dsmail2244@windstream.net or Anthony Shea, ashea247@comcast.net.

East Vandergrift

Dec. 6: Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish is selling tickets for a St. Nicholas Day lottery raffle. Winning numbers will be the first drawn Pennsylvania Daily Pick 3 numbers at 1:30 and 7 p.m. on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. Winners will each receive $1,000 and a $100 gift certificate to Naser Foods. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: Patricia, 724-568-3409 or Deborah, 724-859-3186, in the parish office or after Sunday Mass in the church vestibule.

Freeport

Wednesdays: The Blessing Closet 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.

Hampton

Today: The Greater Pittsburgh Civil War Roundtable will host a free program, “The Rebels Are Coming: Department of the Monongahela” by Rich Condon at 7 p.m. at the Hampton Community Center, 3200 Lochner Way. Public welcome.

Harrison   

Tuesday: The Accordion Club will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at 6003 Freeport Road. Details: 724-236-0665.

Tuesday: The Who Knew? program at Community Library of Allegheny Valley will present “Pittsburgh’s Historic Stadiums and Arenas” with author Mark T. Fatla at 6 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or visit the calendar tab at alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Wednesday : Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation will offer a free seminar “Streets Smarts and Safety: Exploitation, Awareness and Staying in Control” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the foundation office, 1 Acee Drive. Harrison Police Chief Brian Turack will discuss trends in the local community. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-294-3157 or pkuzmirek@akhealth.org.

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. Bring donations on Wednesday or leave them on the front porch. Do not place donations in the blue bins behind the church.

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 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. Cost: adult tops and bottoms, 50 cents; children’s clothing, 25 cents. Please bring small bills and your own bags. Donations welcome during these hours. Everyone welcome.

Jefferson Township

Thursday: The Bereavement team at Concordia Lutheran Ministries will observe Children’s Grief Awareness Day with a live prayer service at 1 p.m. on Facebook page of Hopes Road @GSHHopesRoad. To submit the name of a bereaved child or share a note of encouragement to be read during the program email Julie Tuskan at jtuskan@goodsamaritanhospice.org by Tuesday. Details: concordialm.org.

Leechburg   

Today: Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will host bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 268 Canal St. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open.

Nov. 30: Holy Innocents Anglican Church, 366 Third St., is accepting orders for its annual Christmas cookie tray sale. Cost: large trays, $42; small trays, $32. Order deadline: Nov. 30. Orders: 724-882-2665, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Lower Burrell

Tuesday: Peoples Library will host a virtual talk with Charles Duhigg, author of “Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection” at 2 p.m. Recordings will be available to watch on demand. To register and ask questions, visit libraryc.org/peopleslibrary. Details: 724-339-1021.

Tuesday: A Vitalant community blood drive will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the American Legion, 1100 Wildlife Lodge Road. Appointments recommended. Appointments: 877-258-4825 or visit the Donate Blood button at vitalant.org and search for group code UC0180045.

Wednesday: The Ministers Chorus of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church will present a concert at 7 p.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church, 150 Alder St. Donations will be accepted and will be shared between the church and the chorus. Details: 724-339-2420.

Lower Burrell/New Kensington

Wednesday: Peoples Library is selling chances to win a collection of Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off tickets. Cost: $5 each; or three for $10. The drawing will be Nov. 19. Tickets are available at both library locations. Details: 724-339-1021.

New Kensington

Ongoing: Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley is selling 2026 lottery calendar tickets. Tickets are $25 and include one number for each day of the year. Special number requests will be granted if the number is available. Tickets: jlessig@animalprotectors.net or animalprotectors.net.

Tuesday: The Parkinson’s Foundation of Western Pennsylvania sponsors a free support group for Parkinson’s Disease patients and their family members from 2 to 3 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at Valley Points YMCA, 800 Constitution Blvd. Details: Chrissy and Josh Lookabaugh, 724-594-3245.

Wednesday: Ethical Hope, 938 Fifth Ave, will offer free programs: 11 a.m., toddler story time and craft; 11:30 a.m., preschool story time and craft; and 12:30 p.m., kids crafts. No reservations required. Details: visit Ethical Hope on Facebook.

Nov. 30: The Myrrh Bearing Women of St. George Orthodox Church are accepting orders for a holiday sweets sale. Prices: baklawa, $14 per 10-piece section; and sambosic, $3 each. Pickup: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at the church hall, 1150 Leishman Ave. Quantities are limited. Order deadline: Nov. 30. Orders: 724-335-9988.

North Apollo 

Thursday : A Red Cross community blood drive will be from 1 to 6 p.m. in the hall of First Church of God, 507 20^th St. Appointments: 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and search with ZIP code 15673.

Oakmont

Tuesdays: 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.

Plum

Tuesdays: The Plum Food Pantry, 81 Sandune Drive, distributes free food from 4:30 to 6 p.m. the first three Tuesdays of each month. Recipients in need must stop in at the pantry to be confirmed/verified. Details: 724-327-0367.

Springdale

Nov. 25: 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 “Listen For the Lie” by Amy Tinter. Copies available at the library. New members welcome. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Tarentum  

Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St.

Tuesday: First United Presbyterian Church of Tarentum will host its monthly free community dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the church, 913 Lock St. The menu will include holiday fare, dine-in only.

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/attaboys-kitchen. 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.

Nov. 22: Tarentum Recreation board is accepting registration from groups, businesses and clubs who would like to participate in this year’s holiday parade. Lineup will be at noon and the parade will begin at 1 p.m. Details: Carrie, 724-448-1470 or tarentummagazine@gmail.com.

Washington Township  

Tuesdays and Thursdays: The Blessing Closet at Union Presbyterian Church will be open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the church, 656 Route 380. Items available include paper products, cleaning supplies, feminine hygiene products and pet supplies. Appointments: 724-337-3042.

Wednesday: A veterans service officer will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the office of state Rep. Jill Cooper, 105 Pfeffer Road, suite 5. Services available will include disability and pension claims, benefit questions, assisting spouses with survivor benefits issues and applications for veterans grants. Appointments will be accepted, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments: 724-387-9113.

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