Chest total reaches one third of goal

The annual Albany Chest campaign is underway, and donations totalling $13,782 had been deposited into the account by Monday, Nov. 5, leaving $28,218 still needed to reach this year’s goal of $42,000. 

Local residents are reminded that everyone is not expected to give large amounts. 

“If everyone helps, the small donations really add up and make a big difference,” board vice president Donnie Lucas said. “Even $5, $10, and $20 amounts help a lot. The Chest helps out so many organizations, that I would guess that just about all of the families in Albany are helped in some way, especially when you consider that the fire departments protect everyone.”

Twenty-six different organizations submitted requests for this year’s funding. In each issue during the next few weeks, a brief look will be taken at two or three of those organizations in order to give prospective donors an idea of their activities.

Albany Little League

Albany Little League will impact approximately 150 youth between the ages of five and 15 participating on Coach Pitch, Little League, Intermediate League, and Junior League teams supported by the local non-profit organization.

Albany Baseball Association board member John Tom Heatly has requested $2,500 from the Chest to cover approximately five percent of the program’s annual budget.

“Albany Little League will use any money received from the Chest for general operation, helping offset costs such as uniforms, insurance, umpires, field maintenance/upkeep, equipment, and concession stands,” said Heatly. “We benefit the community by providing a supervised recreational outlet for Shackelford County youth from March 1 to July 1. The past two years, we have hosted the District Machine Pitch Tournament, which brought over 300 people to Albany, and we hosted numerous rounds of the All-Star Tournament, which brought in people from all of District 5.”

Expenses incurred by the board include replacing equipment as needed and maintaining multiple playing fields.

Participants pay a registration fee to help cover the costs of uniforms and insurance. 

The league provides scholarships for children unable to pay registration fees.

Chelsea’s Project

Chelsea’s Project Diaper Ministry is a non-profit that was started five years ago by Blanca Sanchez to help meet a need she witnessed in the community.

“I was volunteering at Closet Angels, and we would have people who came in hoping that we had diapers,” Sanchez said. “Closet Angels did not stock diapers, and I hated to see people leave disappointed.”

Chelsea’s Project helps families in need with diapers, wipes, baby formula, and sometimes also provides adult diapers.

Sanchez gladly accepts donations of diapers of any size and any brand.

The diapers are sorted by size, and bar codes are scratched out before the diapers are given to people who need them.

Sanchez requested that the Albany Chest consider making a donation to the local diaper ministry again this year, but did not specify a dollar amount.

“This ministry has helped so many families in need,” said Sanchez. “We help single mothers, teen mothers, unemployed (families), and even working parents that are trying hard to make ends meet. The funding (we have received from the Chest in the past) has blessed so many in our community.”

RC Vittles by Vehicle

The meal home delivery program operates under the umbrella of the Resource Center and serves 37 elderly residents and shut-ins.

A hot lunch is provided to recipients on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week.

Volunteers from local churches, organizations, and the high school deliver the meals to those over 60 years of age, disabled, or shut-in due to a medical condition, and who have requested the service.

According to director Mindy Ary, Vittles by Vehicle is requesting $5,000 from the Chest to help meet its $38,000 budget.

The program has been in place for over 21 years.

The Feed Store

The Feed Store mission exists to feed the youth of Albany, both spiritually and physically, according to executive director Tisha Wilkins.

“We accomplish this through a variety of different outreach points,” she said. “We have allocated about $200 a week to feeding the approximately 50 juniors and seniors who attend each Tuesday of the school year. We would apply $1,000 toward our scholarship fund, and help 10 kids to go on a mission trip in the summer of 2019.”

The registered non-profit was established in 2006, and is used regularly for Tuesday lunches,  youth Bible study, fellowship, games, and special events like Running Man and the Mr. Christmas Tree pageant.

The Feed Store has asked for $3,000 again this year.