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.
Free rides available to medical appointments
Wesley Family Services offers free transportation for those 18 and older from their homes to medical facilities within New Kensington, Arnold, Lower Burrell and parts of Vandergrift.
Rides are available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except holidays. One-way and round-trip rides are available.
For details, call 724-895-8214.
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.
Arnold
Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its weekly pierogi sale. Cost: 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
Today: 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.
Thursday: The Allegheny Valley Salvation Army and Community Center in Brackenridge will hand out free grab-and-go lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the center parking lot, 917 Brackenridge Ave. Free grocery items from Walmart and Aldi will be available. Everyone is welcome.
Thursday: Bingo will be at 7:15 p.m. at the American Legion, 845 First Ave. Details:724-994-6030.
Freeport
Today: 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.
Thursdays: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will have bingo at 7 p.m. in the post back hall, 102 Fifth St. Bring bingo chips. Kitchen open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Public welcome.
Jan. 24: A bingo to benefit the Freeport Area High School baseball team will be at 3 p.m. at Laube Hall, 115 Community Park Road. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Cost: $50. There will be 16 regular games, 5 specials and a $2,500 jackpot game. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be sold and there will be a basket raffle and 50-50. BYOB and snacks. Tickets: fhsjacketsbaseballboosters@gmail.com.
Gilpin
Thursday: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 113 Firehall Road.
Harrison
Today: 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.
Today: 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.
Today: 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.
Friday: 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.
Jan. 21: The Sip & Stitch group at Community Library of Allegheny Valley will meet from 4 to 6 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Enjoy provided refreshments and conversation while you work on your needlecraft projects. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.
Jan. 22: The Kitchen Sink Book Club at Community Library of Allegheny Valley will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. The selection will be “A Spool of Blue Thread,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Tyler. Copies are available at the circulation desk. Reservations required. Reservations:724-226-3491 or alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.
Jefferson Township
Thursday: Bingo will be at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 754 N. Pike Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit post and auxiliary projects.
Leechburg
Thursday: The free genealogy group at Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the museum, 118 First St. The group meets on the first and third Thursday of each month. Bring a laptop or tablet. Basic computer skills required. Details: Judy, 724-681-9154.
Feb. 14: A murder mystery dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs hall at the Sokol Club, 55 Siberian Ave. Cost: $45. There will be a cash bar, basket raffle and 50-50. Tickets: stop in at the club. Questions: sokol255@outlook.com. Proceeds will benefit the Sokol 255 Educational Scholarship Fund.
Lower Burrell
Today: Peoples Library will offer Puzzles for Grownups at 1 p.m. at the library, 3052 Wachter Ave. Details:724-339-1021.
Thursday: Peoples Library will host an Arts, Crafts and STEM craft workshop for all ages at 1 p.m. at the library, 3052 Wachter Ave. The children’s chess club will meet at 4 p.m. Details:724-339-1021.
Jan. 31: A spaghetti dinner to benefit cancer patient Janet Powell will be at the Kinloch Volunteer Firehall, 915 New York Ave. Donations of gift certificates, gift baskets, pasta sauce, pasta, rolls, butter, salad, desserts, plates, and to-go containers are being accepted. Details: Carrie, 724-826-0168 or Holly, 724-351-2782.
Through Feb. 28: The works of local mixed media artist Lynn Jacques, a member of the Allegheny Valley League of Artists, will be on display during business hours at Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter Ave.
New Kensington
Today: Peoples Library will offer Puzzles for Grownups at 1 p.m. at the library, 880 Barnes St. Details: 724-339-1021.
Today: 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.
Thursday: An Arts, Crafts and STEM craft workshop for all ages will be at 11 a.m. at Peoples Library, 880 Barnes St. The knitting group will meet at noon. All skill levels welcome. Details:724-339-1021.
Thursday: New Kensington Eagles Auxiliary bingo will be at 7 p.m. at the aerie, 2134 Freeport Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. Sales are from 6 to 6:50 p.m. Cost: $25 for a 12-on package; specials will be available. The kitchen will be open. Public welcome. Details:724-448-7403.
Thursday and Saturday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Items available include clothing for all members of the family, shoes, linens, purses and handbags. Donations welcome during business hours only. Do not leave donations at the door.
Friday : Animal Protectors will sponsor its No Father’s Day neuter clinic for male cats at the shelter, 730 Church St. Cost: neutering and a rabies vaccine, $40; FVRCP, $10; FIV/FELV testing, $25; and $30 for microchipping. No feral cats will be accepted. Drop-off is from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Payment is required at drop-off. Reservations required. Reservations:tinyurl.com/3wzsk4uk.
Monday: A free celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s 97th birthday will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Digital Foundry, 855 Fifth Ave. There will be an obstacle challenge, prizes, refreshments, giveaways and birthday cake. Non-perishable food items will be collected for a local nonprofit. Reservations required today. Reservations: Diane Hightower, 724-989-9007 or ddh5441@psu.edu.
Jan. 24: Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley is accepting orders for a soup sale. Varieties: chicken noodle and minestrone, from Rebecca Molnor of Knapp Kins Food Truck. Cost: $11 per quart. Order deadline: Friday. Pick-up: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 24 at Animal Protectors, 730 Church St. Orders: animalprotectors.net.
Parks Township
Thursday: Parks Township Sportsman Club Association will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the club, 1111 Shipman Road. New members welcome.
Friday: Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7 p.m. in the firehall, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Saxonburg
Thursdays: Good Samaritan Hospice, a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, will host a free weekly grief support group from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 29 to March 26 at South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St. Reservations required by Jan. 20. Reservations:724-898-0126, ext. 4426.
Sharpsburg
Sunday : A bingo fundraiser to benefit Addiction Recovery Ministry in Sharpsburg will be at 2 p.m. in the John Paul I Center, 201 Ninth St. Tickets: $25, and include six cards for 10 regular games, five specials and one jackpot. Free drinks and snacks will be served. Reservations: Rosemarie, 412-378-9290 or rhaasarm@gmail.com.
Springdale
Today: Springdale Free Public Library will offer a free crochet class for beginners at 6 p.m. Reservations required. Reservations:724-274-9729
Tarentum
Today: 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.
Vandergrift
Mondays through March 19: Vandergrift Public Library will sponsor a chess club for children in kindergarten through eighth grade from 6 to 7 p.m. at 163 Washington Ave. Students are paired with others their age and are guided by a chess master and volunteers. Chess boards are provided. A tournament will be at 9 a.m. Feb. 28. The group will not meet Jan. 19. Reservations required. Reservations: tinyurl.com/yv5ztzrp.
Jan. 24: TinyCause will host a microchip and nail trim clinic for dogs and cats from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tiny’s Fur Family Shop, 131 Columbia Ave. Cost: microchips with lifetime registration, $25; ear cleaning, $5; nail trims, $10. Appointments required for microchips only. Microchip appointments: message TinyCause on Facebook.
Washington Township
Today: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 6 p.m. at Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380.
Friday: 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. The kitchen will open and card sales start at 6 p.m. Free coffee. Players must be at least 18 or accompanied by an adult.
West Leechburg
Jan. 23: Burrell Youth Wrestling will sponsor a bingo at 6:30 p.m. at West Leechburg Firemen’s Recreation Hall, 1116 Gosser St. Doors open and dinner will be served at 4:30 p.m. Cost: $45, includes regular and special games and buffet dinner. There will be instant tickets and a 50-50. Tickets: tinyurl.com/3xtnp7er. Details: call or text 724-882-9700.
Winfield
Thursday: The Matrona Family Resource Center at Cabot Church, 707 Winfield Road, will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. New and gently used clothing in sizes preemie through 10/12 will be available, as well as strollers, car seats, toys and more. No reservations required. Details:724-524-1809 or tinyurl.com/mw9kd9cp.