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Stalling Out

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By Kathy Thomson

The annual Albany Chest campaign is in its final days, and the drive is still $15,880 short of the 2019 goal of $42,000 set by the directors. 

According to Chest treasurer Paige Adair, $26,120 had been deposited as of Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Over 50 percent of the targeted amount was collected during the first three weeks of the campaign,  but less than $2,000 has been given in each of the last three weeks, leaving 38 percent of the goal to be raised in the few short weeks before the end of 2019.

Twenty-four different organizations, including one new applicant, submitted requests for this year’s funding, all of which were considered by the board.

Final allocations will depend upon the monies available in the account.

During the next few weeks, a brief look will be taken at a few of the benefitting organizations in order to give prospective donors an idea of their activities.

Mother’s Day Out

Mother’s Day Out is a community outreach program of Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church and currently serves 18-20 students. 

It is a twice-a-week quality child development organization that provides a safe and loving environment for children ages three months through four years old, according to program director Debbie Hamilton.

“Each class provides curriculum to promote cognitive, social, and spiritual growth in each child,” Hamilton said. “Our goal is to provide every child with an excellent early childhood education.”

Mother’s Day Out relies primarily on tuition to support the program but is requesting funds in the amount of $2,000 to aide in the general operation.

The child development organization was established nine years ago, and it welcomes its students on both Monday and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. during the school year.

Shackelford Library

The Shackelford County library was established in 1959 by the Albany Study Club which donated the books and opened the public library in a vacant room in the Shackelford County courthouse. 

Today the library is located at 402 N. 2nd St. and has expanded to include other resources as well as books. The library is used for various community activities including GED classes, senior activities, and children’s story time.

“These monies will enable the library to purchase and install five new Dell computers to replace aging computers,” said library committee member Janna Ledbetter. “Computers are an important part of the library’s mission to offer a quality service for the patrons of Albany and the surrounding areas. These computers will also be used by students enrolled in the local GED classes.”

The non-profit has requested $3,600 this year.

ResourceCare 

Day Camp

ResourceCare has once again requested funding to help cover the expenses associated with its Summer Day Camp program. 

The day camp is offered annually during the month of July and is free of charge and available to all pre-K through sixth graders of Shackelford County.

“In 2019, we provided jobs to 42 high school students, enrolled 210 children to camp, and provided 2,534 lunches,” said program director Mindy Ary. “This camp helps provide a safe place for kids during the summer while also forming mentoring relationships, physical fitness, vacation Bible school, jobs to Albany youth, and many more fun activities.”

Ary has requested $5,000 from the Chest to help fund the non-profit program.

Day Camp expenses are anticipated to be over $60,000 in 2020, according to Ary.

“The success stories we experience by helping others has been made possible by the generous contributions that are designated to our programs each year,” Ary said. “A part of our mission is to make a difference in the lives of those that we serve, and your annual contribution helps make that possible.”

Project Graduation

Albany High School Project Graduation is a non-profit, parent run organization that has been active for over 26 years.

The concept behind Project Graduation is to provide graduating students a safe way to celebrate their success and to spend the night after commencement together as a class.

Fundraising activities and request for funds from past supporters are used to help pay for the event.

Project Graduation has requested $1,000 from the Chest to help with the estimated expenses.

Closet Angels

Closet Angels has served the local community as a clothing ministry for over nine years, but this is the first time that the non-profit has requested funds from the Chest.

According to director Lori Reames, the organization is asking for $1,000 to help cover the cost to repair the sidewalk and build a handicap ramp.

“We believe this will enable more people to access our clothing closet, especially our elderly and physically challenged shoppers,” said Reames. “Our current sidewalk is crumbling and poses a risk for shoppers to fall.”

The Feed Store

The Feed Store has asked for $3,000 from the Albany Chest this year.

“The Feed Store mission exists to feed the youth of Albany both spiritually and physically,” said executive director Tisha Wilkins. “Our vision is to introduce kids to Jesus and help them grow in their faith. We accomplish this through a variety of different outreach points, specifically Tuesday lunches, outreach opportunities during the week for high school and junior high kids and our youth ministry.”

The Feed Store spends about $200 a week to feed approximately 50 junior and seniors who attend lunch each Tuesday of the school year, and the ministry would use part of the Chest money to help cover that cost, according to Wilkins.

“Our second goal would be to apply $1,000 toward our scholarship fund and help 10 kids, those who might not be able to afford the travel cost, to go on a mission trip in the summer of 2020,” said Wilkins. 

The Feed Store is a non-profit organization and was established in 2006.

Contributions to the Chest can be given to Paige Adair at First National Bank or Jana Kitchens at First Financial Bank, or they can be mailed to Albany Chest, PO Box 2019, Albany TX 76430.