Sign-up due

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville is holding a youth volunteer appreciation dinner on Friday for those who have served the church in various ways: altar servers, junior choir members, youth group, church decorators, VBS helpers, religious education aides, CSS and Mission meal volunteers, flea market helpers.

Sign up by today for the 6-8 p.m. event. Email the youth minister at youthminister@qopchurch.org or call the office at 610-681-6137.

TOPS tonight

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church hosts two TOPS (Take of Pounds Sensibly) meetings on Wednesdays: at 10 a.m. and at 6 p.m. On Thursdays, there is one meeting a month at 10 a.m.

For more information, email coolemt07@yahoo.com.

WE Food Pantry

The West End Food Pantry in Kunkletown is open from 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of the month.

Community supper

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville is holding its Community Sunday Supper at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Patriotic Art display

The Western Pocono Community Library, 131 Pilgrim’s Way in Brodheadsville, is hosting the Pocono Mountain Arts Group’s patriotic-themed exhibit the entire month of February. For more details, call the library at 570-992-7934.

Volunteers sought

The Monroe Senior Volunteer Program is in need of volunteers.

Opportunities include: grocery shopping and delivery; medical transportation; friendly visitor/phone pal; veteran and military family programs; school programs; clerical/office help; PA MEDI Program (Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight) counseling; and personal care/nursing home visits.

Call the MSVP office at 570-420-3747 for more information.

Special event

St. Matthew’s ECC Church in Kunkletown is holding a “Love Your Family” event from 1-3 p.m. Saturday.

For more details, call the church at 610-381-2442.

Soup pickup

Pickups for the St. Matthew’s ECC Church in Kunkletown soup sale are set for 11 a.m. to noon Saturday and 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Souper Bowl

• On Sunday, Zion Lutheran will help tackle hunger in the community by accepting donations for the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network Food Pantry in large soup pots representing the two football teams vying for the NFL championship.

• Effort UMC will have soup pots in the Narthex for donations of canned goods such as canned fruit, canned pasta, canned vegetables, canned sauces and nonperishables.

The church will also have a competition involving the teams in the Super Bowl.

Each soup pot will have a team name so people can vote for their favorites by placing donations in that particular pot.

There will be a third pot for donations from those whose favorite team didn’t make the Super Bowl but who wish to donate.

• After all the Masses during Super Bowl of Caring weekend (this weekend), the youth of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville will be collecting donations for those in need in the church community.

• St. Matthew’s ECC, Kunkletown, is collecting cans of soup for the month. All soup collected will go to the West Food Pantry.

Tax assistance

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide will operate the area’s volunteer income tax assistance program, providing free income tax return preparation for Monroe and Carbon County residents.

Certified volunteers will be available to assist middle- and low-income taxpayers, with special attention to those ages 60 or older.

That assistance will be available at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville on Thursdays between 9:30 and 11:45 a.m. If Thursdays are not possible, assistance will be available on Tuesdays between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Hughes Main Library, 1002 N. Ninth St. in Stroudsburg.

People can make appointments, by phone only, at the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging at 570-420-3735.

Conservation art

Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is holding an event Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kettle Creek Art Gallery.

The exhibit “Community Conservation” was curated by Watershed Specialist Charles Kelshaw and features artwork and maps created by local conservation partners — from watershed associations and fishing clubs to educators and others. There is no charge for Saturday’s program.

The exhibit runs through Feb. 27. Call 570-629-3061 with any questions.

The gallery is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lenten study

Effort UMC will be holding Lenten Bible studies beginning on Feb. 11, a week before Ash Wednesday. The study will be on the first season of the “The Chosen.”

There will be soup and salad at 5:30 p.m., with the study starting by 5:45 p.m. and running to 7 p.m.

Special tub raffle

The Habitat for Humanity Re-store heart-shaped tub raffle ticket sale (online) ends Feb. 13.

To reach the ReStore by telephone, call 570-216-4390.

Did you know?

Pocono Mountains United Way has free help available. Through PoconoInfo, people can get free one-stop information and referral service for Monroe County that provides easy access to human services in our community.

Call 570-517-3954 or email info@PoconoUnitedWay.org.

Breakfast set

McMichael UMC is holding a breakfast from 8-10 a.m. Feb. 14, by donation only. The menu includes eggs, meat, potatoes, pancakes, hot drinks. A group of musicians will play until 11 a.m. Takeouts will be available. All are welcome.

Lent and supper

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville is holding a Discover Lent and Pancake Supper on Feb. 16 beginning at 6 p.m.

There will be interactive stations of discovery into the traditions of Lent, prayer, fasting and almsgiving, for all generations.

All participants are invited to bring any nonperishable food item(s) for the PVEN collection as supplies dwindle in the winter months.

Ash Wednesday

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church will hold two Ash Wednesday services on Feb. 18. The services, including Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion, will be at 1 and 7 p.m.

Bible study

St. Matthew’s Church in Kunkletown has announced an after-service Coffee Hour with Council for 10:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 22.

Pastie sale

If pasties are your passion, St. Mathew’s Church, Kunkletown, has announced that the Layman’s group is holding a pastie sale, with orders and money due on Feb. 22. Pasties can be picked up at St. Matthew’s on March 16.

The flavors will be: original beef, with or without onions; chicken; Italian sausage; veggie melt; and spinach melt. Premium ham pasties will also be available at a higher cost.

In addition, small fruit pies — apple, blueberry, cherry and peach — can also be ordered.

To place an order and for cost information, contact any member of the Laymen’s Fellowship or call the church office at 610-381-2442.

Helpful donations

St. Peter’s UMC, Saylorsburg, continues its quest to collect air fresheners and two-pair household kitchen gloves for the United Methodist Committee on Relief buckets now on display in the church.

Church families should also watch for sales on dish soap, laundry detergent, green scrubbing pads, etc.

LIHEAP help

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps income-eligible families pay heating bills, is now open and will continue to take applications until April 10. LIHEAP helps by issuing grants that are sent to utility companies or fuel providers.

For more details, visit www.compass.dhs.pa.gov, or request an application by calling the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095.” People can also get an application from the Monroe Area Agency on Aging Office at 724 Phillips St., Suite 102, Stroudsburg; 570-420-3735 or monroeaging@monroecountypa.gov.

Takeout dinner

A spaghetti takeout dinner at Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kresgeville will be held on March 14, from 4-5:30 p.m.

It will includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad with celery seed dressing, garlic bread and dessert.

For costs and reservations, call 570-688-5381 by March 1.

Day camps

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Center has announced the following summer day camps for the year:

• Get in Touch with Nature, for ages 7-10 — June 22-26; July 6-10; or Aug. 3-7.

• Adventure Camp, for ages 11-13 — June 22-26; July 6-10; Aug. 3-7; or Aug. 17-21.

For more information or an application, call the center at 570-629-3061 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit mcconservation.org anytime.