By Sandy Morris

Christmas shoebox season is here and several local congregations are participating in Operation Christmas Child as part of the Samaritan’s Purse Ministries.  

Local churches participating in the program this year include First Baptist Church, First Christian Church,  and First  United Methodist Church.

The purpose of the mission is to pick up a shoebox from a local participating church and fill the box with various gifts such as fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items.  

By Sandy Morris

Local residents can help the Abilene Salvation Army with Thanksgiving meals by bringing homemade or purchased pies to the First United Methodist fellowship hall beginning Thursday, Nov. 19 through 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 23. 

FUMC member Lance Thomas said this week that the Salvation Army serves 4,000 to 6,000 meals a month and is especially busy at Thanksgiving. 

By Sandy Morris

The 2020 Believe Tree for Teens applications are due at The Feed Store this Friday, Nov. 20.

The Albany Ministerial Alliance is the sponsor for the tree which provides gift assistance for Shackelford County junior high and high school students.

Applications and wish lists are available at ResourceCare in Albany or from any church in the Ministerial Alliance. 

The Ministerial Alliance also is working with the junior high and high school counselors in Albany and Moran to identify students who may need gifts for Christmas. 

By Sandy Morris

& Lynsi Musselman

Albany Chest directors continue to be very concerned about this year’s slow progress toward the $41,000 goal.

This week, the campaign saw only a $200 increase from last week’s ending total, bringing the current balance up to $7,670. 

“By this time last year, we had collected more than half of the goal, which was the same as the 2020 goal of $41,000,” said board vice president Melinda Lucas. “More than ever, we need local residents to give what they can, even if that’s only a small amount.” 

By Sandy Morris

The holiday season is here, and there are several opportunities to help others in the community.

Special Gift Drive

The Wallace Insurance Agency of Breckenridge is hosting a Christmas gift drive for local students in Albany and Breckenridge. 

“We are calling it a ‘gift drive’ because the students need more than just toys,” said Jessica Holmes, gift drive chairperson. “Any kind of donation will be accepted – cash, gift cards, new unwrapped toys, new shoes, gloves, and hats.”

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany’s Cause for Paws helps keep the stray animal population under control by contributing towards the cost to spay and neuter local dogs and cats.

However, the non-profit is struggling to keep up with the requests for assistance, and they are asking for help themselves.

Cause for Paws member Lacey Anderson said there is not an official campaign  this year to refund the organization, but members have asked for donations to be made if possible.

The News will be printing Santa letters and holiday essays in the Christmas issue to be published on Thursday, Dec. 24.

Students at Albany and Moran schools will be writing letters at school, which will be submitted to the News office by their teachers.

Children at several other local facilities, such as First Love Day Care,  will also be assisted by their instructors in writing letters to Santa.

By Sandy Morris

Albany fans are invited to join in several of the activities planned by the Albany Athletic Booster Club to help motivate the Lions to be at the top of their game for Friday’s playoff bout with the Ralls Jackrabbits at Tiger Stadium in Snyder. 

Kickoff for the area game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19. 

Tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for students and are available through a link at albanyisd.net. 

By Sandy Morris

Shackelford County residents will be able to enter their prize pecans in the upcoming 2020 Abilene Area Pecan Show on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

According to Shackelford County Extension Agent Kloey Painter, entries will be accepted starting Monday, Nov. 23 with a deadline of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30.

By Donnie A. Lucas

All good things come to an end, and so it was for the Lady Lions’ volleyball season on Tuesday, just one step short of the state championship game.

Albany lost to defending state champion Crawford in straight sets Tuesday, 25-14,25-11,25-14 in the Class 2A state semifinal game played in Weatherford.

The Lady Lions qualified for the state tournament as one of the final four teams for only the second time in program history with a three-set win over Wink last Saturday in Big Spring.