The Stroller, Dec. 2, 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.

Christopher’s Light children’s charity seeking toy donations

A toy drive to benefit Christopher’s Light children’s charity will continue through Dec. 15.

New, unwrapped toys for children in need 12 and younger can be dropped off at Apollo Memorial Library and Fox’s Pizza, both in Apollo; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vandergrift Presbyterian Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church, all in Vandergrift; Allegheny Township S&T Bank; and Dollar General in North Apollo.

Christopher’s Light is a offers clothing, support and educational services to children in Armstrong, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties

HOPE Center seeks support for program

The HOPE Center is seeking support for its annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program to benefit HOPE Center families.

This program is an opportunity for individuals, families, community groups, businesses, churches, schools, or anyone looking to do something for those in need and give back to their community and is easy, convenient, and designed to meet any budget.

If you are interested in “adopting a family” to buy Christmas items for this year, call Shelley at 724-224-1100 or email shelleyr@akhopecenter.org.

Calendar

Allegheny Township

Today: Alle-Kiski Day Quilters and Sewers will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Allegheny Township municipal building, 136 Community Building Road. Bring your project. No dues or fees. Free parking, lighting, tables and electrical outlets available. Bring a lunch and drinks. The group meets the first and third Friday of each month. Details: Pat, 724-601-3089.

Apollo

Saturday: The Sacrament of Anointing will be administered after the 4:30 p.m. Mass at St. James Church, 109 Owens View Ave.

Tuesday : 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

Saturday: Arnold United Methodist Church, 1801 Leishman Ave., will host an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the church. Menu: choice of plain, blueberry, pecan and chocolate chip pancakes or French toast, sausage and drink. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $8; 12 and younger, $6.Details: 724-339-2377.

Saturday: Homemade doughnuts will be sold from 6 to 10 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1721 Victoria Ave. Cost: $8 per dozen. Orders: 724-335-0101.

Avonmore

Saturday: A Christmas craft show will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Avonmore Senior Center, 458 Railroad St. There will be a silent auction, food, baked goods and a 50/50. Details: 724-697-4014.

Dec. 10: A super bingo will begin at 1 p.m. at the Avonmore Senior Citizen Center, 458 Railroad Ave. Cost: $25 by Dec. 9; $30 at the door. There will be a $100 early bird jackpot and a $200 final jackpot. Includes dinner of spaghetti, meatballs, tossed salad and garlic bread and a door prize ticket Public welcome. Tickets and details: 724-697-4014.

Buffalo Township

Dec. 10: Alle-Kiski Pickleball Inc. will sponsor a Pickleball is Coming to Freeport Park holiday fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. at Smokin’ Toad’s, 110 S. Pike Road. Cost: $25, includes buffet dinner. There will be music, gift card giveaways and a 50/50. BYOB. Proceeds will be used to bring dedicated public pickleball courts to the Alle-Kiski Valley. Tickets: stop in at Smokin’ Toad’s. Details: allekiskipickleball@gmail.com.

East Vandergrift 

Saturday and Sunday: A rummage sale will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and noon to 1 p.m. Sunday in the basement of Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church, 420 McKinley Ave. All Halloween, Thanksgiving and fall items will be half off.

Tuesday : 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 

Today: Natrona Heights Veterans of Foreign Wars will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Lane. Doors open at 6 p.m., and there will be specials, a 50/50 raffle and final game jackpot.

Sunday: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will sponsor a Toys for Tots bingo at 1 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Lane. Doors open at noon. Cost: $25 per package; extra packages, $10, includes a light lunch. Bring an unwrapped gift valued at about $10 to receive extra jackpot specials. Details: Lorraine, 412-537-5954.

Kiski Township

Sunday: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department will sponsor an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the firehall, 1037 Route 56. Menu: scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries, hash browns, French toast, waffles, pancakes, biscuits and sausage gravy and beverages. Cost: $11; age 4 to 12, $6.50; 2 and 3, $2; younger than 2, free.

Lower Burrell 

Saturday: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will feature the band Better Late from 8 to 11 p.m. at the post. Members and three guests welcome.

Dec. 12: The American Legion Auxiliary Christmas Party will be at 6 p.m. at the post, 1100 Wildlife Lodge Road. Menu: prime rib and shrimp or chicken piccata. Cost: $10, refundable deposit. Send menu choice and paid reservations to Lori Barbieri, 301 Nebraska Drive, Lower Burrell PA 15068 or drop off at the post.

Dec. 17: The Moose lodge is sponsoring a holiday food drive for the 15068 area of the Westmoreland County Food Bank through Dec. 17 at the lodge, 499 Reimer St. Non-perishable food and toiletry items can be dropped during business hours.

New Kensington

Today: The Christmas bingo planned by East Kensington Community Circle is canceled.

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

Sunday: Aluminum City Terrace Activities Group will host a bingo from 2 to 4 p.m. in the activities center, 136 Aluminum City Terrace. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Cost: $3, includes one board, lunch and drinks; extra boards, $1 each. There will be a Christmas basket raffle. Public welcome.

Dec. 14: The Myrrh Bearing Women of St. George Orthodox Church are accepting orders for a Christmas sweets sale. Pickup: noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the church, 1150 Leishman Ave. Prices: baklawa, $14 per 10-piece wedge; and sambosic, $2.50 each. Quantities are limited. Order deadline: Dec. 9. Orders: 724-337-3918.

Parks

Sunday: Parks Township Sportsman’s Club will host a country music jam night from 5 to 8 p.m. at the club, 1111 Shipman Road. Bring your favorite stringed instrument and sing along. Refreshments available. Public welcome. Details: 724-845-2390.

Tarentum  

Sunday and Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St. An opportunity for silent prayer will be at 6:30 p.m.

Vandergrift

Dec. 12: The Adult Book Club at Vandergrift Public Library will meet at 6 p.m. at the library, 128C Washington Ave. The selection will be, “The Girl Factory,” by Karen Dietrich. Details: Carol, 724-568-2212.

Washington Township 

Today: Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 4078 Route 66. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and sales start at 6 p.m. Free coffee. The kitchen will be open. Players must be at least 18 or accompanied by an adult.

West Leechburg

Sunday: A chili cook-off to benefit cancer patient Thomas Joseph Phillips Sr. and his family will be at Town Tavern, 1403 Main St. Doors open at 11 a.m. Entries must be submitted by noon and prizes will be awarded. Cost: $5 to enter; $10 to eat and judge; and there will be a silent auction and 50/50.