Special event

Almost 50 people were confirmed at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Gilbert this past Sunday, and over 40 were welcomed to the parish through the sacrament of First Holy Communion.

Day of Prayer

St. Peter’s UMC is hosting a National Day of Prayer worship service, along with sister churches, Effort UMC, McMichaels UMC and Neola UMC Thursday at 7 p.m.

This year’s theme is Lord, Pour out Your Love, Life and Liberty.

The sanctuary is open for community members of all faiths to pray for our churches, our nation and leaders, our military, our families, our educational system, businesses and the media.

Pastor Paul Milligan of Neola UMC will be a featured speaker.

Service is cooking

Two youth groups of Our Lady Queen of Peace are involved in the cooking for CSS (Community Sunday Supper). The 9th to 12th graders, the Teens of Peace, cooked Tuesday and the 7th and 8th graders, Living 4:12, are slated to cook this evening.

The next Sunday Supper will be served as takeout at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Blood drive set

An American Red Cross blood drive will be held at the American Legion in Gilbert from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Sign up on the web or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

On May 12, there is a Red Cross blood drive at Faith Lutheran in Blakeslee from noon to 5 p.m.

Today’s blood drive at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville is happening from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. To verify a possible open time to donate, call 800-B-A-DONOR (223-6667).

Hillside help

Hillside Memorial Cemetery, a joint venture between Effort UMC and St. John’s Lutheran Church, neighbors in Effort, is in great need financially.

Those wishing to help can make a donation to Hillside Memorial Cemetery Association and mail it to P.O. Box 127, Effort, PA 18330.

Anyone with questions or concerns, and/or interest in volunteering to serve on the board or help with maintenance of the cemetery, can contact Gary Shupp from St. John’s Lutheran Church or Karen Catina from EUMC through their respective church.

Plots are still available for purchase.

Legion meeting

American Legion Post 927 is slated to meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Legion Post Home in Gilbert.

Cleanup day

Eldred Township has announced its spring cleanup day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Township Building, 490 Kunkletown Road, in the rear of the building.

Township residents can bring most things they cannot place in the regular trash, like mattresses, old furniture, etc.

The event is free and open to all residents of Eldred Township but does not include tires, which the township must pay to have removed.

For the cost of bringing regular car or truck tires, limit 16 tires per household, call the Eldred township office.

The township does recycle metal, so if residents can keep that separate, it will store that until it goes for recycling.

Electronics recycling will also begin on May 7 and will continue until late September. The list of allowable electronics is available from the township.

Staff will be present to help unload residents’ vehicles.

No May meeting

The West End Democrats will not be meeting in May. The officers will determine the next meeting.

Breakfast served

A donation-only breakfast will be served at McMichaels UMC from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday.

A full breakfast, including a beverage, is being offered.

Another breakfast will be offered June 12.

Free craft

On Saturday, the West End Park & Open Space Commission is hosting a free Mother’s Day craft from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Ross Township Park at 248 Anchorage Road, Saylorsburg.

It allows children to color a flower recipe holder to give to someone special.

The event is also an opportunity for children ages 11 to senior year of high school who are looking for volunteer hours to do so. Contact the WEPOSC at 570-992-9733 for details.

Everyone is asked to wear a mask as COVID-19 guidelines will be followed.

Effort food pantry

The Supplemental Food Resource Center at Effort UMC will be open for a distribution day from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

It is currently a drive-up/pickup service only. Volunteers are being sought for various duties.

Contact with John Ostovich and/or Alfredo Russo, the co-directors of the food pantry at eumcsfrc@ptd.net or 570-629-1890, ext. 109.

Worship time

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kresgeville continues its parking lot worship at 10:45 a.m. as well as virtual worship by email/YouTube and Facebook via www.ssplckresgeville.org.

Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or arargot3@verizon.net. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or tneditor@tnonline.com.