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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.