Blood drive

Miller-Keystone’s Give-a-Pint program will be collecting at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville from noon to 6 p.m. today, if there are still openings.

Call 610-691-5850/800-B-A-DONOR for more information.

The next area American Red Cross drive that still has openings now will be at the Jackson Township Fire Hall in Reeders on Jan. 8 from 1 to 6 p.m.

Call 1-800-RED Cross (1-800-733-2767).

Photos wanted

Joan McKinsey, project coordinator, is asking families to submit family photos for a special Christmas Eve video project for Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kresgeville.

The first part is photos of families in church, particularly at Christmas. The second is family traditions at home, but no Santas, elves or reindeer please.

Pictures should be sent to debra0702@msn.com by today.

Anyone with questions about submitting pictures a day later can call McKinsey at 570-216-2301.

Eldred Township

The regular meeting of the Eldred Township Board of Supervisors scheduled for tonight, is rescheduled to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The final budget for 2021 will be approved at this meeting, and any other business that may come before the board will be considered.

Food boxes

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will have food boxes available from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday.

The church secretary says people do not have to call, just come by. Church members will put the box on/in the car. No identification is required.

League meeting

The West End Little League is slated to have a league meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Chestnuthill Township Park building in Brodheadsville, according to its posted calendar.

PVSD board

The Pleasant Valley Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the District Office in Brodheadsville.

Santa drive-thru

American Legion Post 927 will host a children’s Christmas drive-thru with Santa from noon to 2 p.m. in the Post 927 parking area on Sunday.

This is an open community event, and children will receive a free unwrapped gift.

Post 927 members who sign up at the Post bar early enough will receive wrapped gifts for their children. All other participants’ gifts will be unwrapped.

Store closing

Eldred Township’s Thrift Store is closed again until further notice due to the current status of COVID-19 cases in Monroe County.

Township officials feel this is a necessary precaution to decrease the risk of transmission of the virus and to keep the volunteers and residents as safe as possible.

Polk Township

The township’s budget adoption meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, with the regular township meeting following at 7 p.m. thereafter.

Church changes

With the new COVID-19 guidelines issued by the governor, various churches have changed their respective worship schedules again.

• Effort UMC has canceled all in-person church services until at least Jan. 3, and will continue to post its Sunday service, as well as Christmas Eve, on its website effortumc.org and on YouTube. Seekers, the men’s group, and Tuesday Night Bible Study will take place on Zoom.

Sunday school/body building classes will continue online. Message the instructor Miss Brenda at brendamhanvey@aol.com for more information and a copy of the schedule for the month of December and January or call her at 570-629-1890, ext. 104.

• McMichaels UMC invites the community to join in an outdoor Christmas Eve service at either 3 or 5 p.m. There will be social distancing and masks must be worn. The music will be recorded.

• Middlecreek Christian Church, Kresgeville, has a worship service Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. There is no child care, however.

The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be at 7 p.m. There will be no child care either.

During all services masks are to be worn when entering and exiting the church and whenever there is moving around. While one is in one’s pew, the mask may be removed. Offering plates are placed at the back and front of the sanctuary, rather than being passed around.

• Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, concerned about adequate distancing at 50 percent capacity, will continue with the same procedures that have been in place and continue to stream live on Facebook and YouTube, as well as broadcasting on 99.3 FM radio.

• St. Peter’s UMC, Saylorsburg, will host Freely Given, a Gospel trio, for the fourth Sunday of Advent. Freely Given has graced the sanctuary with song numbers many times and has been warmly received.

The worship and concert begin at 10 a.m. both in-person and via Facebook Live. The Facebook address is www.stpeterssaylorsburg/live/. All are welcome.

The church observes all CDC COVID guidelines, including masks, physical distancing, hand sanitizers, complete sanitizing of building, etc.

For additional information, call 570-992-7311 and leave a message.

• Salem UCC, Gilbert, is worshipping inside following the various CDC guidelines, including wearing masks, seating, etc.

The Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24 will be held at 7:30 p.m. It will be a candlelight service. The supply pastor is licensed minister Darlene Blocker.

• Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran in Kresgeville also was on YouTube this past Sunday.

Christmas card use

There are several uses for no-glitter Christmas card fronts as long as there is no personal writing on them.

Locally, the Western Pocono Women’s Club made over 1,150 cards this year to donate to such organizations as Meals on Wheels and the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network.

For adding more to their creative Christmas card coffers by donating some fronts for next year, contact committee chairwoman Vicki Connors via the club email at wpwomensclub@gmail.com, putting Vicki’s name in the subject line and giving her your name and phone number in the message.

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