Halloween is history and so is the fall general election, meaning that the holiday season is here once again. Now what has become a tradition in Albany and Clinton County to help children and families less fortunate around Christmas time is back.

The 13th annual Christmas at Home toy and food drive has officially kicked off and organizers are hoping that a bit earlier start will help boost totals from last year and make the event another successful drive.

Although numbers were down slightly last year from years past, due in part to a late start, lack of volunteers and a still sluggish economy, some 268 homes and at least 522 children benefited from the annual program, which was the original brainchild of WANY radio station owner Pam Allred and the City of Albany.

In 2014, 266 homes and 564 children benefitted with new toys and donated food.

Participation of churches and businesses last year also kept pace with almost 40 combined churches and businesses taking part. However, the number of volunteers were down somewhat, with the only volunteers being city employees who were charged with wrapping toys, boxing food, and making pre-Christmas deliveries.

Organizers hope that the number of volunteers will pick up this year, as well as the number of churches that collect food and businesses that donate to the drive.

Churches wishing to participate is asked to primarily set up boxes to collect nonperishable food items and Allred said collection boxes is some businesses would be set out as early as this week. The deadline for all collections, both food and toys, has been set for December 12.

People who wish to help can donate food and new toys at the business locations and participating churches or at Albany City Hall. (A listing of businesses where boxes are set up will be published next week.)

Allred also noted that more gifts are always needed for infants, adolescents, and teenage children. Monetary donations will also be accepted and will be used to purchase food and or toys for distribution to families prior to Christmas.

Deliveries will also begin a little earlier this year, according to Allred, probably around the middle of December to make sure all households will receive assistance by Christmas Day.

“Shopping early is usually a good time to find better selections and prices for toys,” Allred noted. She asks shoppers that would like to help to purchase a new toy to be given to a needy child this year.

Also, if anyone knows of a family or child who may benefit from the Christmas at Home food and toy drive, they can call and refer them to WANY Radio Station at 387-5186 or Albany City Hall at 387-6011 during normal business hours. Please try and give a listing of the number of people in the household, the number, ages, and sex of the children and a physical address of the family, if possible.

The annual drive is sponsored in part by WANY, the City of Albany, Chamber of Commerce and Clinton County Fiscal Court, among others.

Any business, church, organization or individual interested in helping or needing more information about Christmas at Home should call Albany City Hall at 387-6011.