Applications due soon for baskets

This Christmas season the Albany Ministerial Alliance is sponsoring both the annual Christmas Basket food program and for the first time this year, a new drive called “Believe Trees,” to help collect donations for Christmas gifts for local teens.

“Believe Trees,” similar to Angel Trees in other programs, will be located in several locations around town, with the various teens’ wish requests divided among the trees, according to Alliance treasurer Tisha Wilkins.

Christmas Baskets

Last year, the Alliance provided 84 families with ingredients for a traditional holiday meal through the Christmas Basket program, and applications are currently available at participating local churches and at the Resource Center for those that need a little help with groceries this Christmas.

Completed forms must be turned back in to the church or ResourceCare by Monday, Dec. 3.

The Christmas baskets typically include a turkey or ham, vegetables, and other various grocery items needed for a holiday meal.

The food will be delivered on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 16, and families requesting home delivery need to make sure that someone will be home when the food is delivered.

“The baskets can not be left on a doorstep, because they contain perishable items that could be damaged by the weather or by stray animals,” explained Wilkins. “I am also asking folks to make sure that they only turn in one request per home, so we can help out as many families as possible.”

Donations to help fund the Christmas baskets can be mailed to the Ministerial Alliance, PO Box 3084, Albany, Texas 76430, or handed to any of the ministers in the Alliance.

Believe Trees

Last year, 29 youth in high school and junior high received specific requested items, clothes, and Albany Lions gear through the ResourceCare Christmas for Teens program. 

The Ministerial Alliance is assuming the lead role this year in gathering gifts for the teens with their new program, “Believe Trees.”

The local school guidance counselors, ResourceCare employees, and Alliance representatives are working together to compile a list of teenagers to include on the Believe Trees.

“The wish lists placed on the trees will be anonymous,” said Wilkins. “We are trying to make sure that all of our local teens have a good Christmas without embarrassing anyone.”

The Believe Christmas trees will be decorated with an ornament and tag for each teen, and will be displayed at participating churches, including First Baptist, Friendship Baptist, First Christian, Matthews Memorial Presbyterian, and United Methodist. 

Those wishing to contribute gifts can pick an ornament and tag for a teen from one of the Believe Trees, complete the registration form, and select gifts to purchase from among the item(s) listed on the tag.

The unwrapped gift(s), with the tag and gift receipt(s) attached, should be returned to the same Believe Tree by Friday, Dec. 7.

Gifts will be wrapped, and then will be available for parents to pick up at The Feed Store on Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.