AA meetings

The Alcoholics Anonymous group meeting at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. today and again on Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

McMichaels United Methodist Church in Saylorsburg also has an AA meeting, at 4 p.m. Wednesdays and at 6 p.m. Saturdays.

Pantry open

Effort United Methodist Church’s Supplemental Food Resource Center will be open from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Room available

Space needed for a winter event or party? Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, has its parish hall available. Call the church at 570-992-6988 for availability.

The church services are Saturdays at 5 p.m., Sundays at 8 a.m. (also via Zoom) and 10:30 a.m. (also via Facebook Live).

A simple prerecorded spoken service is on Zion’s Facebook page each week. Sunday school is held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at 9:15 a.m.

Eldred Township

The Eldred Public Works Department will be working Thursday and Friday.

The office for Eldred Township will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday.

The office will be closed Jan. 1 and will reopen on Jan. 2 and resume a normal schedule.

New Year’s deadline

State Rep. Jack Rader has sent out the notice that new dog licenses are due by Jan. 1, 2025.

Free dinner

Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, is hosting a free drive-thru community dinner from 5-6 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2025, where people can pick up a hot meal.

Bereavement meetings

The Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville is scheduled for monthly dates for St. Luke’s Hospice Bereavement Support Group for Jan. 8 from 1-2:30 p.m.

Upcoming meetings are Feb. 19 and March 19. The sessions, which are open to the public, are led by a St. Luke’s Hospice bereavement counselor.

For more information, call 484-526-2499.

Soup sale

Effort UMC is holding another soup sale. Being offered for January are turkey potpie and cheeseburger. Orders must be in no later than Jan 22. The pickup date is Sunday, Jan. 26, after the services.

PVEN report

The staff of the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network report being able to help 85 families, giving each of 160 children Christmas gifts.

For the month of November, the PVEN staff served 373 families (1,130 individuals) via the food pantry; 42 families (117 individuals) via the Clothing Closet; 127 families via the Diaper Pantry; and 280 individuals via the Menstrual Hygiene Pantry.

Needed are peanut butter and jelly, cereal, pasta and pasta sauce, and coffee and tea for the Food Pantry; deodorant and shaving supplies, cleaning products (all types), winter coats and gloves (all sizes), blankets, comforters, sheets and towels for the Clothing Closet; baby formula and baby food, and adult pullups, bladder pads and bed protector pads for the Diaper Pantry.

Shoebox campaign

St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ, Kunkletown, will begin distributing 48 empty shoeboxes on Jan. 5 because “Operation Christmas Child/Samaritan’s Purse” will kick off an 11-month campaign to fill the boxes by Nov. 16, 2025.

Information will be available for guidance on filling the boxes.

Shoot and meat raffle

The Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club, at 122 Gun Club Lane, Saylorsburg, will hold its first block shoot and meat raffle on Jan. 5, beginning at 11 a.m.

It is a 12-gauge shotgun only event. The public is welcome.

For more information, call 610-381-3215.

PTO meetings

The Pleasant Valley Calendar 2025 calls for two PTO meetings. The PVM PTO meeting is set for Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m., while the PVE PTO meeting is set for 4 p.m. Jan. 8.

Habitat request

Monroe County’s Habitat for Humanity is currently doing critical home repairs on 36 different homes and has just purchased a home in Stroudsburg to connect with a partner family who will get a home with a 30-year interest free mortgage.

Donations of $10, $20 or $30 a month, or making a one-time offering in any amount, are requested.

Paint & Sip Night

The West End American Legion Post 927, Gilbert, is hosting a community Paint & Sip night on Jan. 18, at 6 p.m. For details, contact Everett Shaver at 570-977-8208 or Shana Earling at 856-236-2168.

Eagle watch trips

Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center has announced two eagle watch field trips, on Jan. 24 and Feb. 7. The trips, led by an environmental educator, will be to the upper Delaware River.

Participants are to meet at the center at 8:30 a.m. and will return at 5 p.m.

For the cost, which includes bus transportation, call Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center at 570-629-3061.

Participants should pack a lunch and binoculars and dress for the weather. Preregistration and payment are required one week in advance. Seating is limited. Refunds will be given only if notification is made at least one week in advance.