Even without the help of the usual volunteers and a still slow economy, the 12th annual Christmas at Home food and toy drive was once again a huge success, and continues to slowly attract more participants helping collect toys, food and give donations to the program to assist families and children in need around the Christmas season.

The overall total number of families and children reached did decrease slightly in 2015, compared to the previous year, event organizer and program founder Pam Allred, owner of WANY radio station, said that participation in the program as far as churches and businesses, as well as individuals that donate, continue to increase slightly.

After all was said and done, the program served some 238 homes, compared to 266 in 2014 and more importantly, some 522 children were helped, many of which may not have had a good Christmas without the generosity of the community. The number of children reached was also down slightly from the almost record number of 564 recorded the previous year.

Allred said that this past year, a total of 38 churches and businesses participated in the drive. Above that, she noted that several individuals also donated either toys, food or monetary donations to help purchase enough of each to provide for families on Christmas week.

Unlike in years past, Allred said there were no volunteers outside of city employees to wrap, box food, etc. She said some had originally volunteered but due to unforeseen circumstances, including some illness, no one was able to volunteer the time.

Deliveries began the week of Friday, December 18 and continued through Christmas Eve, and once again, city employees volunteered their off time to make those deliveries to the almost 240 homes that were on the “Wish List” of people who could benefit from the annual event.

Although the overall numbers in relation to families and children reached this year compared to last year are still high compared to years past when the program will still in its infancy stage, numbers averaged around 200 homes and only 400 plus children reached.

Like last year, collections of both food and toys started out somewhat slow, but the pace of donations increased as the program progressed just after Thanksgiving and many churches, as usual, came through with a ton of food collected.

Participating businesses and individuals donated the majority of toys donated for children from infancy up to the mid-teens.

Even with the economy still slow, the community once again showed its generosity and Allred was pleased with the overall outcome, especially the fact that the number of overall participants continue to increase slightly each year. For example, last year a total of 35 combined churches and businesses participated, meaning three additional participants got on board this year.

The Christmas at Home program is sponsored, along with WANY, by the City of Albany, Clinton County Fiscal Court, Clinton County News and the Chamber of Commerce.

(A complete listing of participating churches and businesses that took part in the most recent Christmas at Home food and toy drive can be found in a future advertisement.)