Metro-east calendar: Virtual events take center stage amid coronavirus pandemic

Noon Thursday, April 16, is the deadline to appear in next week’s What’s Happening. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions. Due to the large number of submissions, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.

Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Lifestyle, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.

Events

▪ Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. Food Giveaway — Noon to 3 p.m. Friday, April 17. East St. Louis Senior High School, 4901 State St., East St. Louis. Drive-thru food and toiletries distribution on a first come, first served basis. For residents of East St. Louis and all of St. Clair County. Sponsored by Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Emerson, the Regional Business Council, Sysco, Bank of America, Simmons Bank, Schnucks, the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund Coalition, Church of God In Christ Urban Initiatives Program, The Empowered Church, East St. Louis NAACP, Holland and Operation Food Search. ulstl.com

▪ Gateway Region YMCA and St. Louis Area Foodbank Donations — 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Multiple locations. The Gateway Region YMCA is partnering with the St. Louis Area Foodbank for COVID-19 emergency food donations. Emergency relief boxes will help communities rebuild in their time of need. A majority of YMCA locations have donation barrels in front of their buildings. For a full list of locations and suggested donation items, please visit gwrymca.org/foodbank.

▪ Millstadt Senior Center Donation Drive — Millstadt Senior Center is serving more than 100 meals per day to homebound and shelter-in-place seniors. Patty Evamsco, Director of Millstadt Senior Center, wants to be sure seniors are not the last to get the help they need. Care packages are currently being put together with soap, gloves, hand sanitizers and face masks to hand out to all area seniors. The public is asked to reach out to either: offer to donate items and drop off at Millstadt Senior Center or request a care package for a senior in need. The goal is to start delivering them by next week. Call 618-476-3731.

▪ Saint Louis Zoo: #BringTheStlZooToYou — Now online. Although the Zoo is currently closed to the public, they can follow the Zoo on social media. Follow the hashtag #BringTheStlZooToYou or visit stlzoo.org/about/blog.

▪ Live Quaranstream at the St. Louis Aquarium — 10-11 a.m. Friday, April 17. Online at facebook.com/aquariumstl. The Aquarium brings its habitats to you. Explore Shark Canyon, the Mississippi and Missouri River Confluence, the Ray habitat and more. stlouisaquarium.com.

▪ Hunt Military Communities ‘Hunt Little Heroes’ Program — Submissions accepted online now through Monday, April 20. The program recognizes children of military service members who are making a difference within their communities. In honor of Month of the Military Child, nationally recognized each April, Hunt Little Heroes will be highlighting military children ages 4-15 years old that are making a positive impact within their communities or beyond. These children are asked to share their “Hero Story” of what they think it takes to be a hero and how they have been a positive influence in their community. Submissions can be via a 300-word essay, a drawing or a video. For information, guidelines and details for submission, visit huntlittleheroes.org.

▪ Rainbow Village 24th annual Somewhere Over the Rainbow Gala — 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 17. Online at https://www.rbvstl.org/events/sotr/. Rainbow Village, the only non-profit in the St. Louis Metropolitan area that focuses solely on providing long-term, affordable, and quality neighborhood homes for people with developmental disabilities, formally invites guests to a night full of celebration. rbvstl.org.

▪ National House Pawty Fundraiser — 6-9 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Online at facebook.com/events/1139004253114317. Metro East Humane Society joins 80 animal shelters and rescue organizations across the United States to create the National House Pawty, a live-streamed fundraiser. Beginning April 14, individuals are encouraged to raise $250 for their favorite participating pet welfare organization to help event organizers reach their goal of raising $500,000 nationally. The funds will be distributed to participating organizations that have had to cancel fundraisers and adoption events during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information or to donate: https://housepawty.mightycause.com/event/Housepawty

▪ Virtual Taste of Edwardsville 2020 — 7-8 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Online at facebook.com/evilleneighbors. Join for a free concert starting at 7 p.m. and do some one-stop shopping for awesome deals on gift cards and products from local small businesses. For more information, visit the Facebook page or edwardsvilleneighbors.org/events/virtual-taste

▪ Virtual Earth Day Festival — 7 a.m. Saturday, April 18, to 11 p.m. Sunday, April 26. earthday-365.org. The well-known St. Louis Earth Day Festival is being brought to you online. Highlighting local vendors within the different themed-experience areas such as Arts & Crafts, Down on the Farm, Earth Day Cafe, Energy & Green Building, Home & Family, Nature & Wildlife, Pets, Pit Stop, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Social Sustainability, Transportation & Alternative Fuels, Wellness & Spirituality, Youth Corner, etc. earthday-365.org/coming-soon

▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Creative Landscapes, 5515 Old Collinsville Road, Fairview Heights. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, April 20. OSF HealthCare Saint Claire’s Medical Ofc Bldg., Auditorium B, 815 E. Fifth St., Alton. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 3-7 p.m. Monday, April 20. American Legion, 575 N. Main St., Breese. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

Games

▪ Big Papa G Music Trivia Experience on Facebook Live — 6:45 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Online at facebook.com/djbigpapag/live. Trivia begins at 7 p.m. One-hit wonders, one-word singers, animal names, disco hits, finish the lyrics, food names, music in movies, and more.. facebook.com/events/224546842094656

Club News

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwester Illinois (NAMI SWI) — 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, and Monday, April 20. Online via Zoom. Virtual support meetings for family members and other caregivers of individuals with mental illness. For more information, contact Pat Rudloff at 618-656-6781 or silverlining6@charter.net.

▪ Saint Louis Astronomical Society: ‘Planetary Climates’ — 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17. Online via Zoom. Featuring an illustrated presentation by Dr. Raymond E. Arvidson of Washington University. All are welcome. Zoom access and other information available at slasonline.org.

▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays in April. Via teleconference. The PAL group provides education, support and hope to family members and loved ones of someone who has an addiction of substance use disorder. If you would like to join the teleconference, call 618-567-6095. palgroup.org

Food

▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 17. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Carry-out/Call-in only with limited menu. 618-632-6229, 618-973-9149 and 618-444-2386.

▪ Swansea Fish Stand – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Saturday: fried chicken. Open for carry-out and call-in orders only. The Hall and Bar will be closed until further notice. 618-222-7171.

▪ Millstadt Fish Fry and Jam Session — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, Millstadt VFW Post, 200 Veterans Drive, Millstadt. Carry-out only. 618-476-1180.

▪ Fish Fry — 3-7 p.m. Fridays. Collinsville American Legion, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. Limited menu. Curbside service only. Place an order by calling 618-345-2508 or 618-345-5557.

▪ Post 58 Freedom Farm Fish Fry — 3-8 p.m. Fridays. 6355 Hilgard Memorial Drive, Freeburg. Cod, walleye, homemade pizza, wings, coleslaw, applesauce, mac and cheese, stewed tomatoes, fries, fried pickles, potato salad. Cost: $4.50 sandwich, $8 plate, $9 per pound. Carry-out only. Call 618-539-6095 to place an order.

▪ Mascoutah Fish Fry — 4-9 p.m. Fridays. Mascoutah VFW Post 7682, 620 Donaphan St., Mascoutah. No grilled items or pizza offered at this time. Carry-out only. Call 618-566-2288 to order.

▪ Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge Fish Fry — 4:30-7:30 p.m. Fridays. Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge, 2425 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Carry-out only. Cash only. Must call to order. 618-233-1450.

This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 5:00 AM.