Albany Chest goal set at $42,000

The annual Albany Chest campaign is off and running, with directors setting a 2018 goal of $42,000. 

A record 26 different organizations, including two new applicants, submitted requests for this year’s funding, all of which were considered by the board during a meeting held on Oct. 3. 

“The goal of the Albany Chest is, and has always been, to enhance the lives of the citizens of Albany through the money that is gifted to us,” said board president Amy Kelly. “We do our best to place the money where it will benefit the most individuals across the broadest range of our population.”

Letters are being sent to past and prospective donors this week, with plans for them to be in the mail by Thursday.

“The Chest continues to be a great way to support our community and the organizations who benefit our community so much,” said board vice president Donnie Lucas. “We hope that everyone realizes how much these organizations need our support.”

He added that the actual amount of the 26 requests was $48,950, not including three organizations that didn’t specify an amount.

After discussion, the board recommended distribution of $41,450, with hopes of raising slightly more than that.

Several of the organizations requested more than the $3,000 limit that the Chest board set a few years ago.

“Our by-laws allow us to exceed that amount in specific situations, when an organization has a one-time need and provides details about how the funding will be spent,” explained Lucas.

Chest Beneficiaries

In each issue during the next few weeks, a brief look will be taken at two or three of the benefitting organizations in order to give prospective donors an idea of their activities.

The Chest board urged local residents to take a close look at the list of organizations. 

“We think you’ll see that most local citizens, if not all, are touched by or have benefitted from the activities of one or more of these groups,” Lucas said. “And there are also a large number of children involved.”  

Funding Requests

Almost all of the 26 organizations that were approved for funding this week have been on the list in past years, but two are new for the 2018 campaign – Stepping Stones Christian School and a newly formed High School Bass Association. 

Other requests came from Albany 7 on 7 Football, Albany Boy Scouts, Albany Cub Scouts, Albany Volunteer Fire Department, Albany Flag Football, Albany Girls Softball Association, Albany Little League, Albany’s Cause for Paws, Chelsey’s Project (diaper ministry), Cub Mart, and First Love Day Care.

Also the local GED program, MMPC Mother’s Day Out, Neighbors in Need (General), Neighbors in Need Bike Repair, Project Graduation, ResourceCare -ASPIRE, ResourceCare Day Camp, ResourceCare Vittles by Vehicle, Rural Fire Department, Shackelford County 4-H, Shackelford County Library/Study Club, The Feed Store, and West Texas Rehab. 

The board’s award recommendations range from $250 to $4,000. 

The Albany Chest board traditionally waits to see how the money comes in before setting the final allocations.

“We are hopeful that people will keep the Albany Chest in mind and donate early if they can,” Lucas concluded. 

The Albany Chest fundraising drive will end on Dec. 31. Board members hope to distribute checks to the organizations soon after the first of the year.

Contributions 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.