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.


Charity hoops game to feature Harlem Wizards

The Harlem Wizards basketball team will play a charity game versus a team of Freeport Area High School teachers and staff at 7 p.m. April 7 at the Freeport Middle School gymnasium, Buffalo Township.

Admission is $22 for reserved seating; general admission at the door, $15; student and general advance admission, $12; and courtside plus seats, $50, that include front row seats and a pre-game meet-and-greet with Wizards players.

The event is a fundraiser for the Buffalo Elementary School playground fund. For tickets, visit harlemwizards.com/schedule-tickets.


Cash bash to benefit Allegheny Valley, Blawnox fire companies

Allegheny Valley and Blawnox volunteer fire companies will sponsor a cash bash fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. March 22 at the Allegheny Valley Firehall, 851 Parkway Drive in the Harwick section of Springdale Township.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 and include food and drinks. For tickets, stop in from 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays at the firehall.


St. Patrick’s Day event to aid scholarship fund

The J. B. Mason Fund will host the 24th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and party from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Eagle, 737 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh.

For tickets and donation information, visit jbmasonfund.org. Proceeds will fund the J. B. Mason-E.M. Nee III scholarship that is awarded to a graduating senior at Valley High School.


Religion Digest

Apollo

The Apollo Ministerium will sponsor a Lenten lunch series at noon Wednesdays through April 9 at various churches. The March 12 service will be at First Lutheran Church, 214 N. Pennsylvania Ave. The Rev. T. J. Lucas of Quality Life Services will be the speaker.

Leechburg

The Leechburg Ministerium will sponsor a Lenten lunch series at 11:45 a.m. Fridays through April 10 at Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church, 271 Main St. Donations will be accepted to support the ministerium emergency voucher fund.

Lower Burrell

Lower Burrell Baptist Church will offer the Christianity Explored series Wednesdays through April 16 at the church, 2935 Leechburg Road. The series explains true biblical Christianity. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the 90-minute video-based class and discussion is afterward. Reservations are required. Reservations: lowerburrell.org.

Tarentum

A Lenten lunch and worship series will be offered Wednesdays at First Baptist Church, 410 E Third Ave. The service begins at noon and lunch will be served afterward. The Rev. Antoinette Perkins will be the speaker.

Vandergrift

The Kiski Area Association of Churches will sponsor a free weekly community Lenten lunch series at Vandergrift Presbyterian Church, 195 Washington Ave. A prayer service will begin at noon with a community speaker and light lunch will be served afterward.


Calendar

Apollo

Today: 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. Cost: $25 per packet. The kitchen will be open with a limited menu. Details: 724-478-4831.

March 17: St. James Parish is selling tickets for a Luck of the Irish lottery ticket raffle. The winner will receive a complete roll of $5, $10 and $20 Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off tickets. The winning number will be the 7 p.m. March 17 Daily Pick 3 number. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: Linda, 724-882-8776, at the parish office or in the vestibule after weekend Masses.

Arnold 

Today: The American Legion will meet at 2 p.m. at the Arnold Public Safety Building, 601 Drey St. The group meets the second Saturday of each month.

Today: Free bagged lunches will be distributed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. while supplies last at The Tomb, 1821 Fifth Ave.

Tuesday: Free dinnerswill be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at The Tomb, 1821 Fifth Ave.

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its pierogi sale. Varieties: cottage cheese, $16; 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.

Buffalo Township  

April 13: A Sarris candy sale to benefit Buffalo Elementary PTA is being conducted online at sarriscandiesfundraising.com. Candy is available for Easter. Use group number 10-1588.

Cheswick

Monday through Wednesday: A representative from the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be available by appointment at the district office of Pa. Rep. Mandy Steele, 1296 Pittsburgh St. Appointments: 724-826-5151.

East Vandergrift

March 15: The East Vandergrift 125th Anniversary Committee will host a purse and cash bash fundraiser from 2 to 5 p.m. in the hall at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church, 419 McKinley Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m. Cost: $30, include food and beverages. Tickets: Amy, 724-472-3389 or Chris at 412-708-2092.

Freeport

Today: The Lego Club for children age 10 to 17 at Freeport Area Library will meet from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the library, 428 Market St. The group meets the second Saturday of each month. Details: 724-295-3616.

Harmar  

April 13: Daughters of the Nile are accepting vendor reservations for a holiday craft show planned at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center, 1877 Shriners Way. Details: Peggy Addleman, 724-709-9916 or peggyaddleman@gmail.com.

Harrison 

Today: The Diaper Pantry at Christ Our Hope Anglican Church will distribute diapers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 926 Painter Ave., and at Sheldon Park, both in Natrona Heights. Recipients must drive up and remain in their vehicles. First-time recipients must provide their own identification, the child’s birth certificate and a current WIC or SNAP card.

Sunday: The Knights of Columbus will host a pancake and sausage breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the council home, 28 Garfield St., Natrona. Cost: $7; younger than 6, $4.

March 23: A purse bash bingo will begin at 1 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 894 Veterans Drive. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch will be at noon. Cost: $35, includes lunch. Sponsored by the post auxiliary, there will be a silent auction, additional packets, pick of the table, pull tabs and a cash bar. Reserved seating available for parties of 6 or more. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Friends of the Pittsburgh Fisher House. Tickets: Deb, 412-298-6175 or Stacy, 412-882-4256, or at the post.

April 5: Faith Lutheran Church, 1500 Broadview Blvd., will host a pysanky Ukrainian egg decorating class at 11:30 a.m. at the church. Cost: $25, includes lunch and supplies. Reservations required by April 2. Reservations: 412-302-9507.

Kiski Township  

May 3: Boy Scout Troop 589 is accepting applications for a yard sale planned at Spring Church Sportsman’s Club, 1956 Route 56. Individuals, families and vendors welcome. Cost: yard sale spaces, indoors, $15, outside; $10; vendors and crafters, $25. Spaces are 8-feet wide. Bring your own table and chairs. Reservations: checks made payable to Troop 589 should be sent to Carrie Shank, Troop 589, 1134 Old State Road, Apollo PA 15613. Questions: Tracy Boop, 724-420-6758, or Carrie Shank, 724-448-9639 or cjshank@comcast.net.

Leechburg

Monday: 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.

Lower Burrell 

Today: The ClothesLine Ministry at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 3084 Leechburg Road, will be open from 9 a.m. to noon. Cost: clothing, shoes and purses, 10 cents each; semi/formal dresses, leather coats, designer shoes and purses, $5. The jewelry room will be open. Please bring your own bags.

Today: The Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Wildlife Lodge Road, will feature the Missing Link band from 8 to 11 p.m. Members and three guests welcome.

Today : Lower Burrell Police Department will sponsor a Vitalant community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Moose, 499 Reimer St. Appointments recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments: Sharon Crawford, 412-600-4333; 877-258-4825 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and use account code 10055683.

Tuesday: Burrellton Garden Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Community Presbyterian Church, 2751 Grant St. New members welcome. Details: 724-335-3353.

April 1 to 3: St. Margaret Mary Church is taking orders for its annual Easter nut and apricot roll sale through March 17. Payment is due at pickup. Cost: $14. Pickup is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the church, 3055 Leechburg Road. Orders containing apricot rolls must be picked up April 2 or 3. Orders: smmlb.org.

New Kensington 

Today: East Kensington Community Circle will host bingo in the Community Circle building, 1785 Seventh St., across from Martin Elementary School. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon and bingo starts at 1 p.m. Menu: ham, scalloped potatoes and dessert. There will be a progressive jackpot bingo, magic number game, a quickie and drawing for $5 off next month’s bingo admission. Cost: $20, includes lunch, eight regular games and eight specials.

Wednesday: A veterans service officer will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the office of state Rep. Jill Cooper, 356 Freeport St., suite 100. 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: 724-472-4102.

March 23: St. George Orthodox Church Fellowship Committee is accepting orders a spinach pie sale. Order deadline: March 13. Pickup: 11:30 a.m. March 23 in the church hall, 1150 Leishman Ave. Cost: $60 a dozen; $30, half dozen. No orders less than a half dozen will be accepted. Checks should be made out to St. George Fellowship. Orders: 724-335-9988 or tinyurl.com/4mjp2vkx.

April 19 to Oct. 25: The Downtown New Kensington Farmers Market is accepting vendor applications for this year’s market season that will run from mid-April through mid October on Fifth Avenue. Local vendors who sell fresh local produce, meat, poultry, dairy products, juice, cheese, bread and baked goods welcome. Details: Meredith, 412-719-8845 or downtownnkmarkets@gmail.com.

Parks Township   

Sunday: Parks Township Sportsman’s Club will have 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.

Plum

Monday: The quilting group at Holiday Park United Methodist Church, 81 Sandune Drive, will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church chapel. The group sews baby quilts for donation to those in need and the Linus Project. New members welcome. Meetings are the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Sewing and quilting instructions are provided and no equipment is needed. Details: 724-327-6552.

March 13 and 22: Plum Community Library will offer an Introduction to Coding class for children age 7 to 11 at 6:30 p.m. March 13 and 11 a.m. March 22 at the library, 445 Center New Texas Road. Attend either session. Reservations required. Reservations: plumlibrary.org.

Tarentum

Today: A St. Patrick’s pancake breakfast will be from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Masons, 307 Lock St., second floor. Cost: $10; age 6 to 12, $5. Dine in or take out. Tickets will be available for the April 12 50-50 drawing to benefit the lodge scholarship program. Public welcome.

Today: 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.

Sunday: The Academy String Quartet will present a concert at 2 p.m. with guest artist Linda Fisher at Central Presbyterian Church, 3050 Allegheny St. Donations will be accepted and refreshments will be served afterward.