Albany Chest goal set at $42,000
By Donnie A. Lucas
The annual Albany Chest campaign is off and running, with directors setting a 2019 goal of $42,000, the same as last year’s.
Twenty-four different organizations, including one new applicant, submitted requests for this year’s funding, all of which were considered by the board during a meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
“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 Melinda Lucas. “We hope that everyone realizes how much these organizations need our support.”
She added that the actual amount of the 24 requests was $47,900, not including two organizations that didn’t specify an amount.
After discussion, the board recommended setting the goal at $42,000.
A few years ago, the Chest board set a limit of $5,000 for each request, but no one asked for more than that amount.
“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.
Funding Requests
Almost all of the 24 organizations that were approved for funding this week have been on the list in past years, but one is new for the 2019 campaign. Closet Angels asked for funding to apply toward a special project of building a handicap ramp at the facility.
A couple of off-shoots of the clothing ministry, Chelsey’s Project and Neighbors in Need, have been on the list for several years, but Closet Angels has never before submitted an application.
Other requests came from Albany 7 on 7 Football, Albany Boy Scouts, Albany Cub Scouts, Albany Volunteer Fire Department, Albany Flag Football, Albany Youth Softball Association, Albany Little League, Albany’s Cause for Paws, Chelsey’s Project (diaper ministry), Cub Mart, and First Love Day Care.
Also MMPC Mother’s Day Out, Neighbors in Need, Project Graduation, ResourceCare -ASPIRE, ResourceCare Day Camp, ResourceCare Vittles by Vehicle, Rural Fire Department, Shackelford County 4-H, Shackelford County Library/Study Club, Stepping Stones Christian School, The Feed Store, and West Texas Rehab.
The board’s award recommendations range from $250 to $3,000.
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 fundraising drive will end on Dec. 31, with checks distributed soon after the first of the year.
Contributions can be First National Bank or First Financial Bank, or they can be mailed to Albany Chest, PO Box 2019, Albany TX 76430.
