By Sandy Morris

Albany school students will be dismissed early for the Thanksgiving holidays on Tuesday, Nov. 24 with a noon release time.

On Tuesday, Nov. 24, all Nancy Smith Elementary School students will be dismissed at 12:00 noon. Parents will need to pick up their students or make other arrangements. 

All other grades will be released at 12:30 p.m., including junior high and high school students. 

The Thanksgiving holidays include Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Friday, Nov. 27.

By Sandy Morris

Friendship Baptist Church members are inviting everyone to attend the church’s fifth annual “Harvest Acres” this Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Attendees will have the opportunity to buy homemade baked goods, purchase handcrafted gifts and participate in the silent auction for larger prizes. 

The silent auction will be open all day and people can place bids on items until 2:30 p.m. 

No dinner meal will be served this year, but soup and chili will be available for take-out starting at 11:00 a.m. 

By Sandy Morris

The traditional community-wide Thanksgiving service will be held this Sunday, Nov. 22 at First Christian Church. 

The event is open to the entire community. 

The program will begin at 6:00 p.m. with Brad McBee, pastor of First Christian Church, leading the attendees in song. 

Jeff Turner, pastor of First Baptist Church, will deliver the message. 

The community service is sponsored annually by the Albany Ministerial Alliance. 

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By Sandy Morris

The Albany Ministerial Alliance is accepting applications for Christmas baskets from Shackelford County residents who wish to be included in the annual drive. 

The annual event provides Christmas baskets to families in need and include various food items for a healthy traditional holiday meal. 

Baskets offer a choice of a whole uncooked turkey, a pre-cooked turkey breast or a pre-cooked ham, in addition to vegetables and other holiday side dishes. 

By Sandy Morris

Christmas shoebox season is here and several local congregations are participating in Operation Christmas Child as part of the Samaritan’s Purse Ministries.  

Local churches participating in the program this year include First Baptist Church, First Christian Church,  and First  United Methodist Church.

The purpose of the mission is to pick up a shoebox from a local participating church and fill the box with various gifts such as fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items.  

By Sandy Morris

Local residents can help the Abilene Salvation Army with Thanksgiving meals by bringing homemade or purchased pies to the First United Methodist fellowship hall beginning Thursday, Nov. 19 through 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 23. 

FUMC member Lance Thomas said this week that the Salvation Army serves 4,000 to 6,000 meals a month and is especially busy at Thanksgiving. 

By Sandy Morris

The 2020 Believe Tree for Teens applications are due at The Feed Store this Friday, Nov. 20.

The Albany Ministerial Alliance is the sponsor for the tree which provides gift assistance for Shackelford County junior high and high school students.

Applications and wish lists are available at ResourceCare in Albany or from any church in the Ministerial Alliance. 

The Ministerial Alliance also is working with the junior high and high school counselors in Albany and Moran to identify students who may need gifts for Christmas. 

By Sandy Morris

& Lynsi Musselman

Albany Chest directors continue to be very concerned about this year’s slow progress toward the $41,000 goal.

This week, the campaign saw only a $200 increase from last week’s ending total, bringing the current balance up to $7,670. 

“By this time last year, we had collected more than half of the goal, which was the same as the 2020 goal of $41,000,” said board vice president Melinda Lucas. “More than ever, we need local residents to give what they can, even if that’s only a small amount.” 

By Sandy Morris

The holiday season is here, and there are several opportunities to help others in the community.

Special Gift Drive

The Wallace Insurance Agency of Breckenridge is hosting a Christmas gift drive for local students in Albany and Breckenridge. 

“We are calling it a ‘gift drive’ because the students need more than just toys,” said Jessica Holmes, gift drive chairperson. “Any kind of donation will be accepted – cash, gift cards, new unwrapped toys, new shoes, gloves, and hats.”

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany’s Cause for Paws helps keep the stray animal population under control by contributing towards the cost to spay and neuter local dogs and cats.

However, the non-profit is struggling to keep up with the requests for assistance, and they are asking for help themselves.

Cause for Paws member Lacey Anderson said there is not an official campaign  this year to refund the organization, but members have asked for donations to be made if possible.