Fire destroys ministry’s storehouse

By Sam Waller

The Chelsey’s Project ministry will continue despite a fire that destroyed its building last week.

A structure in the 500 block of North Sixth Street that Chelsey’s Project director Blanca Sanchez used to store items caught fire on Wednesday night, Dec. 8.

Lt. Casey Kimbrough of the Albany Volunteer Fire Department said the local department received assistance from the Shackelford County Rural VFD and Breckenridge in combatting the blaze.

“We determined it was caused by a heat lamp in a (neighbor’s) shed,” Kimbrough said. “The fire moved quickly to the house, which was a total loss.”

Chelsey’s Project provides diapers, wipes, and other items for families in need who have infants.

Sanchez said the ministry will continue to assist those in need of its services, with some supplies already on hand.

“We’re still going to help people,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what happened. We’re still available.”

Sanchez said building back the inventory of the ministry is in a holding pattern for now until a decision comes from the insurance carrier.

“We are planning to get another building,” she said. “After we have a building, we can take more donations.”

In the meantime, Closet Angels will accept items for Chelsey’s Project, Closet Angels director Lori Reames said.

“The ministry was actually born out of Closet Angels,” Reames said. “We just didn’t have room on premises, and Blanca had that little house next door to her house where she stored items. We’re really praying the town will rally around her.”

Sanchez said she has already received support from the Albany Band Boosters, which conducted a diaper drive at the band’s Christmas concert on Sunday.

“Right now, we’re good with those donations because we don’t have a place to put anything more,” she said.

Reames is hopeful a new facility can be found to house Closet Angels, Chelsey’s Project, and The Local Exchange (formerly Neighbors in Need).

“We will be ultimately looking for a new building,” Reames said, “hopefully one big enough for all three ministries to operate together under one roof.”