The Stroller, Oct. 22, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Is your church or organization going to host a free Thanksgiving Dinner? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number.

Leechburg VFD to host Oktoberfest

Leechburg Volunteer Fire Department will host Oktoberfest 2020 from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the company grounds, 268 Canal St.

Entertainment will be by the bands Magic and Hot Metal Brass Band. There will be food trucks, craft vendors, chuck-o-luck, a rubber duck drop, 50/50 raffle and strip tickets.

Proceeds will benefit the department roof fund.

Animal Protectors seeking donations for new windows

Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley is continuing to remodel and prepare to open at the new location in New Kensington.

New windows are needed before the site can open. Total cost will be $42,041. Donations are welcome.

To make a contribution, visit form.jotform.com/202816167759162. Checks with “window campaign” in the memo line can be sent to 533 Linden Ave., New Kensington PA 15068.

Kiski Township plans meet-and-greet, pumpkin give-away

A Halloween Community Extravaganza and Police and Fire meet-and-greet will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Kiski Township Firehall parking lot, 1037 Route 56.

Children who live in the Apollo-Ridge School district will receive a treat and a pumpkin and residents can meet the new members of the police force and fire company.

Food bank seeking non-perishable items, volunteers

Allegheny Valley Association of Churches is seeking donations for its food bank.

The following items are needed most: peanut butter, canned meat, tuna and chicken; spaghetti sauce, sugar-free items, gluten-free items, toiletries, feminine products, diapers of all sizes, cleaning supplies, baby formula and adult diapers.

Contributions can by dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the center, 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, Harrison.

Volunteers are needed to help unload the delivery truck on two Wednesday mornings per month. For details, call Jayne at 724-226-0606, ext. 18.

Calendar

Apollo

Nov. 3: Apollo Hose Company No. 2 is accepting orders for a soup sale. Varieties: vegetable beef, wedding and sweet or spicy chili. Cost: $7 per quart; $4 per pint. Order deadline: 6 p.m. Saturday. Pickup: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 3 at the fire hall, 325 N. Fourth St. Orders: call 724-549-1601 or message the company Facebook page with name, phone number, type and size soup

Saturday: Apollo Hose Co. No. 3 will sell takeout chicken wings and fries from 6 to 9 p.m. or until sold out. Pickup will be at the front entrance, 707 N. Fifth St. Cost: $18 per dozen; $10 half dozen; fries, $4. Advance orders required. Orders: 724-478-3001 or 724-575-2311 from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and after 5 p.m. Saturday

Brackenridge

Dec. 10: Pioneer Hose Company is selling tickets for a holiday model train and $500 cash raffle. Cost: $5 for two numbers. Drawing will be based on the 7 p.m. Dec. 10 PA Pick 3 number. Tickets: send a message to the company Facebook page.

Buffalo Township 

Oct. 29: Zion United Methodist Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m. in the family life center, 438 Bear Creek Road. Appointments recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000 or visit the Log In button at Vitalant.org and search with group code C664

Freeport 

Oct. 27: St. Mary Mother of God Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. in the church hall, 608 High St. Appointments are recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and search with group code G0040286

Gilpin

Oct. 31: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department is taking orders for a drive-thru stuffed cabbage sale. Pick-up: 4:30 p.m. after the department trunk-or-treat. Cost: $2 each. Advance orders required. Orders: 724-845-7200, leave a message

Harrison

Oct. 29: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will offer, “Mad Science Spooktacular,” for children in kindergarten through sixth grade at 6 p.m. online. Children will experience creepy potions and create their own cup of glow in the dark slime or Tootsie rolls. Registration required. Registration: click here.

Kiski Township

Nov. 18: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department is accepting orders for pies and pumpkin rolls from The Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown. Cost: $9.50 and varieties available include chocolate meringue, coconut meringue, lemon meringue, apple, dutch apple, blackberry, wild blueberry, razzleberry, cherry, peach, raisin, pumpkin and harvest and pumpkin rolls. Paid orders due Nov. 7. Pickup: Nov. 18 at the firehall. Details and orders: call or text Morgan, 724-466-2812

Leechburg

Today: 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.

Saturday: Leechburg Public Library will have a mini book sale from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Co. Oktoberfest at the firemen’s grounds, 268 Canal St. Cost: $2 per bag

Saturday: The Leechburg Area Museum, 118 First St., will be open from noon to 3 p.m. Face masks and social distancing required.

New Kensington

Saturday: First Evangelical Lutheran Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church Trinity Hall, 221 Ridge Ave. Appointments are recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000 visit the Log In button at Vitalant.org and search with group code C5300045.

Saturday: An outdoor fall festival will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Knead Community Café, 1011 Barnes St. There will be over 25 merchants in the café courtyard and along Fifth Ave. Face masks required when walking through the fair. Details: Marcie, 878-302-3270

Saturday and Monday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Monday. Face masks required, and a maximum of 25 people can be in the store at one time. Donations welcome only during operating hours.

Oakmont 

Today: St. Paul Baptist Church, 180 Delaware Ave., will host a free drive-thru food box distribution from noon until supplies run out Thursday at the church. Boxes will include produce, dairy products and meat. No advance registration or appointment required.

Through Oct. 30: Oakmont Carnegie Library invites residents to visit its outdoor garden area on the Allegheny River Blvd. side of the library, 700 Allegheny River Blvd. Laminated pages from a children’s book are attached to wooden stakes along an outdoor garden path. Details: 412-828-9532

Plum

Friday: A takeout fish fry will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Joy Church, 2000 O’Block Road. Menu: fried fish sandwich with fries, $10.

Oct. 28: A Vitalant community blood drive will be from 1 to 6 p.m. at the municipal building, 4575 New Texas Road. Appointments are recommended. Appointments: call 412-209-7000 or visit Vitalant.org and use group code C528.

Springdale 

Tuesday: The Tuesday Night Book Club at Springdale Free Public Library will meet at 6:30 p.m. The featured book will be, “Heart in the Right Place,” by Carolyn Jourdan. New members welcome. Reservations and face masks required. Reservations: 724-274-9729

Tarentum

Today: Rams Youth Football Association will sponsor a food truck fundraiser with Sonny’s Smorgasbord from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dreshar Stadium, First Avenue. A portion of proceeds will help the association keep costs affordable for families.

Saturday: The Clothing Closet at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details: 724-224-9220

Upper Burrell

Friday: Upper Burrell Supervisors will hold a budget workshop at 3 p.m. at the township building, 3735 Seventh St. Road. Details: 724-335-3517

Vandergrift

Fridays and Saturdays: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will sell takeout food from 1 to 8 p.m. at the post, 141 Sumner Ave. Curb-side delivery available. Members welcome to dine in. Menu: visit the post Facebook page. Orders: 724-568-1427 after 2 p.m.

Washington Township

Nov. 8: 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., 4078 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. Nov. 7. First come, first served. Items will include parts and accessories from anything automotive, classic, high performance, trucks, cars, motorcycles or boats. Reservations and details: 724-727-3079, leave a message

West Deer

Nov. 8: East Union Presbyterian Church, 292 East Union Road, is accepting orders for Christmas door swags made of fresh evergreen. Cost: $20. Order deadline: Nov. 8. Pick up: 10:30 to noon Nov. 29 or Dec. 6 at the East Union Community Center. Proceeds will benefit the church women’s ministry outreach programs. Order forms: facebook.com/EastUnionPCUSA/ or 412-973-8927

West Kittanning

Oct. 27: Harvest Community Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. in the church hall, 143 Reed Road. Appointments are recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000, 724-548-5643 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and search with group code G0450037

Cancellations and changes 

Apollo

Apollo Area Historical Society has canceled all programs for the rest of the year, including the banquet.

Freeport

• The Freeport Halloween carnival and parade are canceled.

• The annual Freeport Kiwanis Pumpkin Path event is canceled.

Harrison

The annual Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Festival of Faith is canceled.

All activities at Burtner House are canceled through the end of the year.

Leechburg

October: The Halloweenburg Festival is canceled.

Lower Burrell

The St. Margaret Mary Parish nut and apricot roll sale is canceled.

Oakmont

The Riverside Women’s Association Halloween parade is canceled.

Oklahoma Borough

Oct. 31: The Drag Queen Bingo to benefit Tinycause Rescue in Vandergrift and the Proper Pitbull is canceled.

Nov. 7: The 90s Bingo planned by North Apollo and Oklahoma volunteer fire departments is canceled. Details: 724-596-7293

Saxonburg

The annual Saxonburg Holiday Parade sponsored by the Saxonburg Area Business Association is canceled.

Tarentum 

The annual BooFest event is canceled.

November: The annual joint Christmas Parade with Brackenridge is canceled.

Vandergrift

The Halloween parade is canceled.

Christopher’s Light children’s charity has canceled the annual children’s Christmas party.