The Stroller, Nov. 28, 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.

Letters from Santa available at Vandergrift Public Library

Vandergrift Public Library is offering personalized letters from Santa to children.

Letters are $5 each and proceeds benefit the library. Order deadline is Dec. 9 and letters will be mailed out by Dec. 16. To order, stop in at the library, 128C Washington Ave.

Free holiday hams and potatoes to be given away

Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation and Cook Vandergrift will distribute free hams with potatoes from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dec 14 at a drive-thru at the Cook facility, 1186 Montgomery Lane, Parks.

Reservations are required. One hundred hams with bags of potatoes will be given out. To register and for details, call 724-845-8621, ext. 332221.

Five high school choirs to participate in Rotary choral festival

Highlands Area Rotary Club’s annual Choral Festival will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Highlands High School Auditorium, Natrona Heights, Harrison.

In addition to Highlands, participating schools are Springdale, Kiski Area, Freeport Area and Burrell. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door.

For questions, call John Peters at 724-224-7730. Proceeds will benefit Rotary charities.

Calendar

Apollo

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.

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, copy paper and trash bags are welcome. Details: ApolloPAHistory@gmail.com.

Thursday: Apollo Area Historical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the WCTU Building, 317 N. Second St.

Dec. 6: The Rather Be Reading Book Club for adults at Apollo Memorial Library will meet at 6 p.m. at the library, 219 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Details and membership information: tinyurl.com/yc8c335t.

Arnold

Tuesday: A free lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Tomb, 1821 Fifth Ave. Bible study will be from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m.

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.

East Vandergrift

Dec. 6: Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish is selling tickets for a St. Nicholas Day raffle. Winning numbers will be the first drawn Pennsylvania Daily Pick 3 numbers at noon and 7 p.m. on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. Winners will each receive $1,000, a $100 gift certificate to The Central Restaurant in Apollo and a $100 gift certificate to Naser Foods in Oklahoma Borough. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: Deborah, 724-859-3186 and in the parish office.

Harrison

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: The Agape Thrift Shop at Grace United Methodist Church, 1333 Freeport Road, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Clean fall and 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.

Dec. 10: Fun and Freedom Youth Sports will host a Jesus’ Birthday Party from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the PNA Club, 14 Linden St., Natrona, for youths, teens, young adults and their parents or guardians. There will be gifts, prizes, a Christmas lunch and special Christmas presentation. Must be present to receive a gift or prize. Reservations required by Thursday. Reservations: 724-274-7773, leave your name and phone number.

Leechburg

Dec. 17: Holy Innocents Anglican Church, 366 Third St., will have its annual Christmas Bake Sale. Orders are being taken for assorted homemade cookie trays. Cost: large trays, $40; small trays, $30. Order deadline: Wednesday. Orders: 724-882-2665, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

New Kensington

Thursday: The Corner, 701 Fifth Ave., will host a free seminar about business insurance policies with Matt McSparrin at 9 a.m. at the center. Reservations required. Reservations: facebook.com/events/810488563567735

Oakmont

Tuesdays: 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.

Freeport

Wednesday: 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.

Tarentum 

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.

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.

Wednesdays: Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St. will have an Advent Bible study Nov. 30, and Dec. 7 and 14 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.

Vandergrift

Dec. 1: Vandergrift Public Library’s free Light up the Library event will be at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Children and their families can attend at 6 or 6:30 p.m. Activities for all ages will include visits with Santa, card making, ornament building, cookie decorating, refreshments and pictures with Santa. Funding for the event was provided by the Upsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-568-2212.

Dec. 4: A free breakfast with Santa for children 10 and younger at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 141-143 Sumner Ave. Reservations required. Reservations and details: Vandergriftbackwhen@hotmail.com.

Washington Township

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