Coronavirus Cards
By Sandy Morris
After much discussion and research, Albany city officials have finalized plans to use the remaining funds of the CARES Act allocation, with $100 grocery gift cards to be distributed to local residents and city employees on Saturday, Dec. 5.
The city was originally allocated $108,000 through the CARES Act funding, and at their most recent meeting on Nov. 9, council members voted to set aside the last $25,000 to use for public health.
Mayor Susan Montgomery had suggested disbursing food to help with holiday meals, and working with city manager Billy Holson and local Brookshire’s store director Curt Manning, a grocery gift card distribution process has been put into place.
“We have made arrangements to purchase and distribute at least 250 Brookshire’s gift cards valued at $100 each,” said Montgomery. “Minimal paperwork is required to apply for these cards.”
The mayor said that while there is not a true application, people will have to sign a form stating they have been affected by COVID in some capacity since the pandemic first started.
Holson said only one gift card will be issued to a single family or household.
“The application is very short and the criteria is broad, but the city does have to document how the money is disbursed,” Holson stated. “By signing your name to this form, you verify that you have been affected by COVID in some way, and by providing your address, we can verify that you live in the city limits.”
Holson expects for the city to be audited on the use of the funds, and city officials must ensure that all documentation is in order or the funding will have to be paid back to the federal government.
Holson emphasized that the gift cards are for residents only living inside the city limits or for city employees.
“We realize there are parts of town that actually fall outside of the city limits, and we wish we could extend this offer,” Holson stated. “But we don’t want this to come back on the city because we didn’t follow the rules.
Since City Hall will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, citizens can begin signing up on Monday, Nov. 30.
Because the lobby doors are locked due to COVID safety, residents are encouraged to call before going to apply for a gift card or once they are outside the building. The number to City Hall is 325-762-3133 and may be reached during normal business hours.
On Saturday, Dec. 5, residents who have completed their paperwork with the city will be able to come down to City Hall and pick up a gift card between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Residents who have not already provided their address and signature can still apply for a gift card on that day, but there may not be any additional cards available.
The gift cards will only be able to be used to buy grocery items, and recipients of the cards are encouraged to shop the local Brookshire’s store to redeem their cards.
“We reached out to the merchants early in the year,” said Montgomery. “Now we want to reach out to our residents because we know everyone has been affected by COVID.”
