Deadline near for teen gift enrollment
This Friday, Nov. 30 is the deadline for teens to be enrolled in the Ministerial Alliance sponsored Believe Trees gift program, and the deadline for families to enroll for the Christmas Basket program is almost here as well.
Christmas Baskets
Applications for the Alliance sponsored Christmas Baskets must be returned to ResourceCare or to a participating church before the Monday, Dec. 3 deadline for the family to be eligible for a box of holiday food items.
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.
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 between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. 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 contain perishable items that could be damaged by the weather or by stray animals,” said Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins. “They can not just be left on a doorstep, so someone needs to be there to answer the door. 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.”
Requests for the baskets must be submitted by Dec. 3, so that members of the Alliance have time to seek adequate funding, shop for needed items, and deliver the food boxes before Christmas.
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
“Believe Trees,” similar to the Angel Trees used in many communities, will be decorated with information about items that underprivileged local teens are hoping to receive this Christmas.
Local school guidance counselors, ResourceCare employees, and Alliance representatives have worked together to compile a list of AISD teenagers to include in the “Believe Tree for Teens” program, but parents of home schooled teenagers need to submit their child’s information by Friday, Nov. 30 to be added to the list.
The applications can be found at ResourceCare or obtained from participating Alliance pastors. The completed form should be returned before the close of business this Friday, Nov. 30.
Last year, 29 youth in high school and junior high received specific requested items, clothes, and Albany Lions gear through ResourceCare’s Christmas for Teens program. The new Believe Tree program is replacing Christmas for Teens, and the Ministerial Alliance has taken over the lead role in soliciting gifts for the participating junior high and high school students.
Believe Trees have been placed at participating local churches including First Baptist, Friendship Baptist, First Christian, Matthews Memorial Presbyterian, and United Methodist.
“We are trying to make sure that all of our local teens have a good Christmas without embarrassing anyone, so the wish lists placed on the trees will be anonymous,” said Wilkins. “Those wishing to contribute gifts can pick an ornament and tag for a teen from one of the Believe Trees, complete the form, and select gifts to purchase from among the items listed on the tag.”
The unwrapped gifts, with the tag and gift receipts attached, should be returned to the same Believe Tree by Friday, Dec. 7, so that they can be gift wrapped by volunteers.
Parents should pick up their child’s gifts at The Feed Store between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12.
