Student council collects for Albany Chest
By Kathy Thomson
The annual Albany Chest campaign is underway, with letters already mailed as directors attempt to reach the goal of $42,000 for the 2019 campaign.
Twenty-four different organizations, including one new applicant, submitted requests for this year’s funding, all of which were considered by the board.
Local residents are reminded that everyone is not expected to give large amounts.
Members of the Albany High School student council went door-to-door throughout town collecting donations for the Chest last Wednesday, and all of the various contributions added up to a record amount for their annual Halloween collection drive.
The student council volunteers raised $1,430 to donate to the Albany Chest.
“If you look through the list of beneficiaries, you’ll realize that just about every family in Albany profits from Chest funding in some way,” board vice president Melinda Lucas said. “The Chest continues to be a great way to support our community and the organizations who serve our community.”
In each issue during the next few weeks, a brief look will be taken at several of the benefitting organizations in order to give prospective donors an idea of their activities.
Albany Little League
Albany Little League impacts approximately 150 youth between the ages of five and 15 participating in Coach Pitch, Little League, Intermediate League, and Junior League teams supported by the local non-profit organization.
Albany Baseball Association board member Paul Hamilton has requested $3,000 from the Chest this year to cover approximately 20 percent of the program’s annual budget.
In previous years, the Albany Little League directors have used money received from the Chest for general operations, helping offset costs such as uniforms, insurance, umpires, field maintenance/upkeep, equipment, and concession stands.
The league provides a supervised recreational outlet for Shackelford County youth from March 1 to July 1.
Expenses incurred by the board include replacing equipment as needed, and maintaining multiple playing fields.
Participants pay a registration fee to help cover the cost of uniforms and insurance.
The league provides scholarships for children unable to pay registration fees.
ResourceCare ASPIRE
ASPIRE is the acronym for the After School Program Initiating Reinforcement in Education.
“The ASPIRE program is being offered within the Nancy Smith Elementary School, and currently 21 third and fourth graders are enrolled in the program,” said ResourceCare program director Mindy Ary. “ASPIRE focuses on completing homework with an emphasis on both an improvement in grades and in the child’s overall attitude about learning.”
The program is free to students, and they are chosen by their teachers and counselors based on grades, test scores, and other barriers they might be facing at home, according to Ary.
The non-profit program has been in place for 25 years, and $3,000 in funding has been requested from the Chest to cover 23 percent of projected budget needs for 2020.
West Texas Rehab
The West Texas Rehabilitation Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that was founded in 1953 as a facility to treat children with cerebral palsy.
The WTRC now serves thousands of children and adults in three different locations and provides a wide array of services including outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology, orthotics, prosthetics, and hospice care.
The Abilene facility is located at 4601 Hartford Street.
WTRC provides care to everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of the client’s ability to pay for the services.
Cause for Paws
Albany’s Cause for Paws has requested $1,000 from the Chest again this year.
“Now in existence for over 10 years, Albany’s Cause for Paws continues to strive to help families in Shackelford County spay/neuter cats and dogs in the community to keep the number of unwanted pets to a minimum,” said board member Lacey Anderson. “Our mission is to prevent strays, unneccessary euthanasias, and help animals live happy and healthy lives. In order to meet our mission and provide this service in our community, we rely on the generosity of individuals and businesses for support.”
The registered non-profit began in 2008.
“We rely fully on donations from the community and the Chest,” Anderson said.
Funding Drive
The Albany Chest board traditionally waits to see how the money comes in before setting the final allocations.
The fundraising drive will end on Dec. 31, and board members hope to distribute checks to the organizations soon after the first of the year.
Contributions to the Chest can be given to Paige Adair at First National Bank or Keri Hebel at First Financial Bank, or they can be mailed to Albany Chest, PO Box 2019, Albany TX 76430.
