Corrected date

The Cash & Gift Card Bingo at St. Matthew’s ECC, Kunkletown, was erroneously listed in the column in June. The event will be held July 27.

Help needed

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, is in need of help from its parish family for the Friday and Saturday overnight Adoration. Anyone available can reach out to M. Krzan.

Nature walk

The church family of Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, will be getting in shape physically, mentally and spiritually on Sunday via a nature walk at West End Regional Park. The group will leave the church at 10:30 a.m. If it should rain, the walk will take place the following Sunday.

Rosary bonfire

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church is hosting a rosary bonfire for its families from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Bring yourself, a friend, your family, and a chair or blanket.

PVEN sign-ups

The Back-to-School Extravaganza held by the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network each summer has been announced.

Students in grades K-12 receive free supplies to prepare them for the coming school year. Each participating student receives a brand-new backpack, sneakers, underwear, socks, dental hygiene products, menstrual hygiene items if needed, and grade-appropriate school supplies.

The staff anticipates 250 or more participants. Registration is required. Families should call the PVEN office at 570-992-3136.

Pierogi pickup

Folks who ordered pierogies from the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network can pick up their orders at the PVEN’s office at 2334 Route 209, Sciota, from noon-3 p.m. today; 2-3 p.m. Thursday; and 8 a.m.-noon Friday.

If you have items to donate, you could bring them then. Needed are: condiments and spices, pasta, cake mix and tomato sauce for the Food Pantry; cleaning products, blankets/comforters, sheets and towels, deodorant and shaving razors for the Clothing Closet; and baby food and baby formula, adult-sized pull-ups and bed protection pads for the Diaper Pantry.

Helping PATH

Effort UMC will except its Joyful Noise offering this Sunday for Pocono Area Transitional Housing.

PATH has two homes in Stroudsburg which offer relief to Monroe County families with children who are experiencing a housing crisis.

Corrected address

From Middlecreek Christian Church comes a corrected website address for information access related to the church’s Vacation Bible School being offered from July 7 through July 11.

For registration, call the church office at 570-629-4066 or visit the church’s VBS page at https://vbsmate.com/events/MiddlecreekChristianChurchVBS/30784.

Auxiliary meeting

The Ladies Auxiliary of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effort, will be meeting at noon Monday. All women of St. John’s are welcome to attend. The group continues to collect nonperishable foods for the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network and Veterans Assisted Living Out Reach. Items can be placed in baskets in the Fellowship Room.

A reminder that scrip orders are due July 6.

Lunch reminder

The Free Summer Lunch Program continues at the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network through Aug. 14 from 8-10 a.m.

It is being held at the PVEN Food Pantry and Clothing Closet at 2334 Route 209, Sciota.

Families will receive five days’ worth of shelf-stable lunches for each child up to 18 years of age. Young people over 18 who are enrolled in school programs for persons with disabilities are also eligible.

There are no residency or income requirement.

For more details or questions, call the PVEN office at 570-992-3136.

Unique VBS

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, is holding its Vacation Bible School at Pleasant Valley Estate pavilion and pool at 199 Ash Lane, Kunkletown, off Route 534, from 4-7 p.m. July 8, 15 and 29.

For more information, call the church at 610-681-6691 or visit Salemstpaullutheranchurch.com.

Upcoming meal

Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, will hold its next free drive-thru community dinner from 5-6 p.m. July 16.

The church’s worship schedule includes: 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 available on Facebook. Sunday school is in summer recess.

Summer day camp

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center offers Summer Day Camp sessions including: “Get in Touch with Nature” — ages 7-10, July 28 to Aug. 1, or Aug. 4 to Aug. 8. Choose one week to get outside and explore this special place we call home. The camp is hands-on with nature so campers should plan on getting muddy.

Camps are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with late pickup available for an additional fee.

Call 570-629-3061 for more information. People can also email dflint@monroecountypa.gov for a fillable application or to pay by credit card over the phone, or visit the website www.mcconservation.org.

OTOH meeting

Operation: Touch of Home will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post 927 home in Gilbert.

Missions dinner

The first West End Missions dinner of the month at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will be held at 4:30 p.m. July 10.

Arrowhead display

The Ross Township Historical Society Museum will be open on July 12 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. All are welcome and admission is free. Featured this month is the documented arrowhead collection of Gil Weaver, who will be on hand to discuss his collection and answer questions.

For more information, email judyj@ptd.net or giarck@ptd.net.

QV second win?

Last year Monroe County’s Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm won the title of 2024’s Best Tourist Seasonal attraction based on nomination and public voting.

Now QV has an opportunity to win again as voting for the award begins Thursday and ends July 17.

Check Facebook for links and voting instructions. To call Quiet Valley for more information, call 570-992-6161.

Bug Fest 2025

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is celebrating Bug Fest 2025 on July 12.

There will be stations such as insect zoo, build-a-bug craft, free face painting, make your own antennae, outdoor insect safari, live butterfly tent and many others.

Volunteers from the Monroe County Bee Keepers Association, Master Gardeners, Penn State Extension and others will be involved.

Preregistration is required and limited. For cost for children and to register call 570-629-3062. Parents can attend for free.

Homebuyer workshop

The Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors is hosting a free first-time Homebuyers Workshop from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 12 at the organization’s office, 2214 W. Main St., Stroudsburg.

Spaces are limited for the workshop so preregistration is required.

For more information or to sign up, visit http://pmuw.org/homebuyercourse

Blood drive set

On July 15, Our Lady Queen of Peace Church is hosting a Red Cross blood drive from 1-6 p.m. in McCawley Hall.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter West End to schedule an appointment.

Children’s benefit

The American Legion Post 927, will welcome Go Joe 28, benefiting St. Joseph’s Center, on July 24, beginning at 2 p.m.

Flea market

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, 1086 Weir Lake Road, will hold an all-day, flea market on Aug. 16. Proceeds benefit the Building Project Fund.

The church requests that the following guidelines be observed by all who donate items for the sale, which can be dropped off 7:30-8:30 a.m. the day of the sale: no items related to witchcraft; no smoking paraphernalia; and no alcohol.

To reserve a spot and for costs, go to https://pleasantvalleyag.churchcenter.com/people/forms/732294. People can also call Olga at the church office at 570-992-6799.