Thanksgiving meals

Pocono Mountains United Way reported locations for free community meals, open to all, on Thanksgiving Day. In the heart of the West End community is the American Legion in Gilbert on Fairgrounds Road (phone number 425-345-4955). That dinner is being served from noon-3 p.m.

For those who live in the northwestern end, there is the Five Loaf House at 133 Firehouse Road in Pocono Pines, from 1-5 p.m. (phone number 570-646-7456).

A longer list can be found on the UW’s website, poconounitedway.org.

Christmas meal

Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, will host a free supper on Dec. 25, but reservations are requested. It will be a drive-thru event. Pickup times will be assigned and reservations are requested.

The church’s phone number is 570-992-6988.

State offices shut

State Rep. Jack Rader reminds all that in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, state offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday.

PennDOT Driver’s License centers will be closed as well.

AA meetings held

Despite Zion Lutheran Church being closed on Thanksgiving, Alcoholics Anonymous will be meeting there at 7:30 p.m.

The group is also scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. New Year’s Day.

Schedule change

At Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, there will be no Eucharistic Adoration this Friday. The chapel will still be open for silent prayer until 4 p.m.

Regional zoning

The Chestnuthill, Jackson, Eldred, Ross and Polk Townships Regional Planning Committee is currently reviewing and updating the regional joint zoning plan.

An online community survey will be open until Friday.

The survey invites input on topics including housing, economic development, the environment and quality of life.

In addition to being online, paper copies of the survey can be found at each township’s building.

Public bingo

West End Memorial American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert continues to hold public bingo every Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m. with card sales.

The first game is called at 7 p.m.

Game specials, full bar, and kitchen offerings are available.

Evening study

Effort UMC has begun a four-week Bible study on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. entitled “The Wonder of Christmas.” Meeting dates are: Dec. 2, 9 and 16. It is being held in the former Day Care Kitchen. No sign-up is required.

Participants are reminded to bring their Bibles.

Legion meetings

American Legion Post 927 will hold the West End Home Association meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday and host the Sons of the American Legion’s monthly meeting from 6-7 p.m. Dec. 3.

Advent services

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Many area churches will include an Advent wreath as part of the worship service and light the first candle during the service.

PVSD board

The Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Dec 4.

Cannoli sale

Zion Lutheran Church is accepting orders for 6-inch-long cannoli, filled with Italian cannoli cream with mini chocolate chips, in November. Pickup is Dec. 6 from noon-3 p.m.

To order, call Ruth at 610-533-6211. All orders must be prepaid in cash or checks payable to Zion Lutheran Willing Workers.

Poinsettia plants

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, has announced that the chancel area will be decorated with poinsettias on Christmas Eve. Plants are available in red, pink or white. There is a cost.

For more information, call the church at 610-681-5191. Orders are due to Linda Hinton by Sunday.

PVEN angel tree

Zion Lutheran is hosting an angel tree, as are other places of faith. It will allow the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network to help families in need provide Christmas gifts for their children in Chestnuthill, Eldred, Hamilton, Jackson, Polk and Ross townships.

Anyone shopping for an angel tree child must have that unwrapped gift to the church involved by Monday or directly to the PVEN by Dec. 6.

Groups to meet

• Effort UMC’s Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet on Tuesday beginning at 10:30 a.m. Newcomers are welcome.

• Zion Lutheran’s Knit & Crochet group will meet at 1 p.m. Dec. 9.

Eastern Star

Monroe Chapter 99 of the Order of the Easter Star will meet at 7 p.m. Dec. 4. at the Rimrock Masonic Center.

Seed Sowers soup

The Seed Sowers of Salem-St. Paul is accepting orders for its soups, Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul and The Good Shepherd’s Hearty Chili, through Dec. 7.

Pickup is set for Dec. 13 at the church.

For cost and even a cost discount, call 570-688-5381.

Habitat flower sale

Monroe County Habitat for Humanity is having a holiday season fundraiser selling amaryllis or paper white bulb kits to raise money for its local mission.

A variety of bulb kits are available for purchase both online and in-store at the Monroe County ReStore, 2610 Milford Road, East Stroudsburg.

Orders must be placed before Monday so the bulb kit will arrive before Christmas Day.

Angel tree gifts

A reminder that anyone who has selected a Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network child to receive a gift should bring the gift, unwrapped, to their respective church no later than Dec. 6, unless other arrangements have been made.

At Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, the Health Ministry Team has set up a Memory & Remembrance Tree that allows members and friends to share in a remembrance of a loved one this upcoming Christmas Season by donating new mittens, gloves, socks, scarves, underwear or hats of any size.

A ribbon strip will be provided for the donor for a written message of tribute for the loved one and will be attached to an angel and the donation for placement on the church’s remembrance tree.

Polk history

The Polk Township Historical Society will meet at 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Kresgeville Eatery, located at 593 Interchange Road, for the group’s Christmas dinner.

All citizens interested in local history are invited. If you are planning to attend, call Norm Burger at 610-681-7561 and leave your name and number of people planning to attend.

Poinsettias order

Anyone hoping to place poinsettia flower on the altar at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Effort is reminded that orders have to be placed with the church no later than Dec. 7.

Gun club event

The Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club is holding its next block shoot and meat raffle on Dec. 7, beginning at 11 a.m. at 122 Gun Club Lane in Saylorsburg.

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

For more information, call 610-381-3215.

QV Christmas

Quiet Valley, Monroe County’s living historical farm, will host its Old Time Christmas Dec. 6 and 7, and Dec. 13 and 14.

Volunteers are needed for actors, singers, readers, guides and support personnel. Each shift will be about 3½ hours long.

The tours for visitors will run about every 15 minutes, from 2:30-7 p.m.

The event will feature seven different “stations” each day, ranging from the live Nativity and caroling to Pennsylvania German traditions and Christmas Tales of Yore, to the Belsnickel visit, handcrafted gifts and tasty baked treats.

For more information, call 570-992-6161.

Seeking shoes

St. Matthew’s EC Church, Kunkletown, is helping Shalom Bayit Foundation collect shoes now through Jan. 31, 2026.

The types of shoes include gently worn, used and new shoes.

Shoe donations can be dropped off at the church between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays.