Polk meeting

Polk Township supervisors will host a general meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday and a proposed budget meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, followed by a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Blood drive

From 1-6 p.m. Thursday, the American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert is hosting an-open-to-community American Red Cross blood drive. Appointments may still be available.

Go online to redcrossblood.org.

PTO meeting

The Pleasant Valley Intermediate School PTO meeting is set for 4 p.m. Thursday.

T-day collections

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville has announced it is collecting turkeys and nonperishable trimmings for meals for the less-fortunate.

Donations maybe dropped of at the church office by Nov. 24.

Hoagie pickup

St. John Lutheran Church, Effort, reminds folks that help for making hoagies for pickup on Friday is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. The hoagie pickup is at noon.

Holiday bazaar

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church is holding a holiday bazaar from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday in McCawley Hall. There will be all kinds of Christmas items and a bake sale as well.

Firefighters support

The Kunkletown Thrift Store is organizing a drive to support the firefighters battling the wildfires. Items needed are beanie hats, AA and AAA batteries, liquid IV, lip balm and foot powder. Please bring items to the Kunkletown Thrift Store at Eldred Community Center.

Youth bake sale

Effort UMC Youth Group members, the Wavewalkers, are holding a holiday bake sale. Being offered are pumpkin pie, apple crumb pie, pumpkin bread (loaf) and chocolate chip cookie bar tray for preordering.

Order forms are on the church’s Welcome Center.

The deadline for ordering is Sunday. Pickup is set for Nov. 24.

Triple T’-day sale

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, is accepting orders for three items for Thanksgiving: filling, apple dumplings and celery seed dressing. The ordering deadline is Sunday

Pickup is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 22.

The church can be reached at 610-681-5191.

Purse bingo

The Western Pocono Memorial Park Committee is hosting a Designer Purse Bingo on Sunday at the West End Fire Company, Route 715, Brodheadsville. Doors open at noon and bingo starts at 1 p.m.

For tickets cost, which include 20 games of regular bingo plus four specials, call 570-992-5721.

Food, baked goods and drinks will be available.

All proceeds will benefit the Western Pocono Memorial Park in Kunkletown. The park is located on Molasses Valley Road and has two softball fields, an all-purpose field, basketball court, playground and picnic pavilion and more.

Touching lives

The Western Pocono Women’s Club will be doing two ”touch someone’s life” activities at the club’s next meeting, Nov. 18.

Members will be making Santa ornaments to present to residents of the Getz Personal Care Home and collecting items for Operation Touch of Home.

Anyone wanting to help the group can check out the OTOH website at www.operationtouchofhome.org. and then deliver item to OTOH Pack the Mack Day being held at Kinsley’s ShopRite in Brodheadsville from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 23.

Free dinner

Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, is hosting its next free community drive-thru hot meal from 5-6 p.m. next Wednesday.

Night of Worship

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Effort UMC will be hosting a night of Contemporary Style Worship. All ages are welcome.

A free dinner (with child-friendly options) will be available from 5-6 p.m.

The worship is from 6-7 p.m. and will be led by “The Kings of Queen Street.”

The nursery will be available during the time of worship for children ages 5 and under. Two certified child care volunteers will be present to take care of the little ones.

Soup sale

Effort UMC has announced its November soup sale. The soups are roasted harvest vegetable and roast pork with cabbage and potatoes.

For cost, call the church at 570-629-1890.

Orders are due by Nov. 20. Pickup date is set for Sunday, Nov. 24, after the worship services.

Fare increase

A public hearing in regard to a proposed fare increase by the Monroe County Transportation Authority is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at MCTA in Swiftwater. The Pocono Pony is planning to raise fares for fixed routes, beginning Jan. 1,

2025, for the first time since July 2014.

Touch of Home

Operation Touch of Home is holding its fall drive from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 23, at Gilbert ShopRite. Donations can also be dropped off at the American Legion Post Home on Fairgrounds Road in Gilbert.

The day’s “Pack the Mack” will be at the Legion. There is a list of suggested items that troops overseas would appreciate. However, no glass containers or aerosols and no liquids more than 16 ounces can be accepted.

Double benefit

Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, is holding a spaghetti supper and silent auction from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 23. It is a double benefit for Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network and Zion’s efforts to replace the church steeple.

Dinner includes spaghetti, homemade meatballs, salad, bread, drinks and homemade desserts.

People can enjoy dinner and place a bid on a gift item.

Bids will be drawn at 6 p.m. but winners don’t have to be present.

Grief Support

The Western Pocono Community Library has partnered with St. Luke’s Hospice to offer free monthly adult grief support. Sign-up is not needed and the groups are free and open to everyone.

The next meetings are set for 1 p.m. on Nov. 27 and Dec. 11.

For more information, contact St. Luke’s Hospice Bereavement Team at 484-526-2499.

Toy program

The Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network has begun its Holiday Toy Program, which will continue through Nov. 30.

Certain documentation is needed to apply; proof of address for current month (lease or property tax information); birth certificate and/or custody paperwork per child being registered; and proof of household income for current month (pay stubs, cash assistance if applicable and must include all members of the household).

Registered children need three wishes and clothing/shoe sizes. There is a $50 limit per gift. Gift cards will not be accepted.

Contact the PVEN at 570-992-3136 with any questions from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Mondays and Fridays.

Poinsettia orders

According to Effort UMC, it’s time to order poinsettias. All orders must be in to the church office no later than Dec. 1. The plants will be in a 6½-inch pot.

Order forms can be found on the church’s Welcome Center.

Deadline coming

America250PA is now accepting applications for the first round of semiquincentennial grants to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America.

The grants are available to any Pennsylvania municipal entity, county or registered nonprofit organization to be used toward programming, projects or events that focus on education, preservation, innovation and celebration of the semiquincentennial. The grants require an equal match from the recipient.

The deadline to apply for the first round of grants is Dec. 15. A second round will be held in the spring.