Infants to seniors to receive gifts
By Kathy Thomson
Christmas is fast approaching, and several programs designed to help make the season bright for everyone in Shackelford County are almost ready to distribute the holiday gifts and food donated by generous community members.
Toys for Tots provides gifts to underprivileged children ages newborn to sixth grade.
Marine SSgt. Doug Beaty coordinates the local Toys for Tots campaign. He is assisted by Albany High National Honor Society members and local merchants.
This year, $769 was contributed at the traditional barbecue meal.
Beaty is still accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys and money at the various donation sites.
This year a total of 76 elementary aged children from Albany and Moran are registered for the gifts, according to program director Mindy Ary.
Parents who applied for Toys for Tots should pick up their kids’ presents at the Youth Center on Tuesday, Dec. 17 or Wednesday, Dec. 18 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
ResourceCare workers will have the gifts sorted by families and ready for parents to pick up.
“We don’t wrap them,” said Resource Care case worker Makenzie Marshall. “We want the parents to be able to see what their kids are getting, and for them to wrap the presents themselves.”
Adopt-a-Senior
All 40 of the seniors served by Vittles by Vehicle were adopted this year.
Their gifts should be delivered to ResourceCare by Friday, Dec. 13 (tomorrow).
The presents will be wrapped and delivered with the VBV meals on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Adopt-a-Senior provides practical Christmas gifts such as cleaning supplies, bed sheets, and towels to the senior adults on the VBV list.
“Since all of our seniors were claimed so quickly this year, we’ve invited anyone else who wants to help to contribute a poinsettia,” said Ragan Riley, who is helping organize the program. “Ideally, we’ll be able to send one to each of the 29 households that we serve with Vittles by Vehicles.”
To contribute to Adopt a Senior, call Riley at 325-762-2447 ext. 101.
Believe Trees
“Believe Trees” gifts should have been returned to the Believe Trees at participating churches or to The Feed Store earlier this week.
Local pastors will deliver gifts left at their churches to The Feed Store, where all the presents will be wrapped and labeled.
This year, 45 teens were included on the Believe Trees, according to Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins.
Those wishing to make contributions to the gift program can send a check with the memo notation “Teen Gifts” to Resource Care Center at PO Box 2435, Albany TX 76430.
Parents should pick up their child’s gifts at The Feed Store on the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Christmas Baskets
The Albany Ministerial Alliance’s provides Christmas Baskets filled with the ingredients needed for a traditional holiday meal to families in need of assistance.
Donations for the holiday meals can be handed to any of the ministers in the Alliance or mailed to the Ministerial Alliance at PO Box 3084, Albany, Texas 76430.
Volunteers are needed to help deliver the baskets on Sunday, Dec. 22. For more information see the related article in this edition of The Albany News.
Additional Needs
“We know of some families that could be adopted this Christmas season, if anyone would like to go above and beyond,” said Riley. “We could use gift cards to Brookshire’s for those in need of purchasing food. We would also like anyone who is able to do so to donate non-perishable food items that we can distribute to those in need this Christmas season.”
