As the holidays approach and we reflect on the blessings we have received during the last year, our minds and hearts turn to those most in need in our community. United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County, Volunteer Oxford, and the Office of the Dean of Students/Volunteer Services at the University of Mississippi, are proud to bring you our 2012 Holiday Wish List as a way for you to help people in need, right here in the LOU community. The Holiday Wish List offers a wide range of opportunities for businesses and individuals to support local non-profit organizations.
The American Red Cross, Northwest Chapter, Oxford: Jennifer Coleman, 662-236-1282, jennifer.coleman@redcross.org
The American Red Cross can use some of the following office items: office desk, chairs for lobby area, stackable chairs or folding chairs that could be used for training classes, office chair (for desk), and a conference table. Also, the American Red Cross is actively recruiting volunteers ranging from clerical to disaster relief. Volunteers are also needed to help with data entry and office work and to wash agency cars.
Boys and Girls Club of North MS: Lamont Watkins, 662-832-0602, lwatkins@bgcnms.org
Every child deserves a caring individual in their life, and the LOU Boys and Girls Club wants to make sure that happens for each of its members. Become a volunteer or mentor today. All volunteers need are a listening ear, guiding principles, and the ability to encourage a child to never give up. Volunteers and mentors work in areas in which they are most comfortable and at times which are convenient for their schedules.
Board games (two of each game): UNO, Monopoly, Life, Scrabble, Checkers, Operations, Connect Four, Candyland; any board game is appreciated.
Craft supplies: Arts & crafts supplies, sidewalk chalk, crayons, pens, construction paper, glue, pencils and copier paper.
The Christmas Store: Jonathan Mattox, 662-259-7150, OxfordChristmasStore@gmail.com
The Christmas Store needs volunteers to assist with shopping (various dates throughout November), toy sorting on Saturday, December 8, and Christmas Store decorating and distribution on Saturday, December 15. Also need toy donations or store gift cards to purchase toys for eligible children in Oxford and Lafayette County who might not otherwise have Christmas. Send an email if interested in volunteering and for toy pickup. Send donations (checks should be made payable to ICM/The Christmas Store) or gift cards to The Christmas Store, PO Box 1686, Oxford, MS 38655.
Doors of Hope Transition Ministries (Oxford/Lafayette County Transitional Homeless Shelter):
Sherry Williams-Jenkins or Tammy Delcourt, 662-234-1100, doorsofhope.volunteer@ymail.com
Household items: Blankets (twin or full), family-friendly DVDs for client units, crockpots (for clients), TV digital antennas for client units (no cable or satellite provided by shelter units), weather radios, telephone with answering machine for shelter unit, umbrellas/rain ponchos for clients.
Professional services: Dental cleanings, eye exams, haircuts (or gift certificates for these services) donated by local providers (for men, women and children).
Gift cards: Wal-Mart (to purchase Christmas gifts for families in the shelter units; restaurants for clients' birthdays); clothing stores; office supply stores.
Toiletries and personal care products: Toilet paper, paper towels, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, tampons, etc.
Baby care products: Shampoo, baby wash, baby blankets, diapers, wipes, and pull-ups.
Basic cleaning supplies: Dishwasher detergent, dish detergent, clothes detergent, clothing stain remover, disinfectant wipes, bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, and floor cleaner.
Office supplies: Copier, scanner ink cartridges (Canon Black 50 and Color 51)
Family Crisis Services:Lea Anne Lemmons, 662-234-9929, office.fcsoxford@gmail.com
Children/Youth supplies: toy cash register, toy doctor kit, toy handcuffs, touch lights, big Checker game board pieces, stuffed animals (new or gently used, small & medium sizes), and arts & crafts supplies.
Office supplies: 11x14 storage bins, cleaning supplies, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, old magazines, and bottled water.
Volunteers: Need volunteers to help with crisis line, administrative tasks, and special events.
Heritage Park: Mary Liles, 662-236-4433, heritagepark@ambling.com
Heritage Park welcomes donations of door prizes for residents' Christmas party; also need volunteers to entertain residents for Christmas holidays.
Interfaith Compassion Ministry (ICM): Lena Wiley, 662-281-1002
ICM needs volunteers for the Christmas Store (see listing for The Christmas Store for details). Items needed include: a new copy machine, clipboards, non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items for the homeless.
Lafayette County Literacy Council (LCLC): Meridith Wulff, 662-234-4234,
lafayetteliteracy@gmail.com
Sponsor a child's subscription to The Imagination Library: for $25 one local child will receive books for a year or for $100 four local children will receive books for a year.
Books needed: Used books for The Book Exchange Program for all ages ( kids through adults), and all genres are welcome. No textbooks or cookbooks, please. Also, sets of nine books for kids (grades K-second grade) in the Reading Rockets program.
Gift cards: Gift cards from a local printer or office supply store.
Volunteer: The LCLC welcomes volunteers to sort books, stock shelves, pick up books and read to kids.
Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library: Laura Beth Walker, 234-5751, lbwalker@firstregional.org
The Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library has an Amazon wish list of DVD titles that need to be replaced and would help your local public library. For a listing of the DVD titles, visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=pd_ys_sf_lf_wl
Leap Frog: Teresa Adams,662-801-9698, leapfrogdirector@gmail.com
Non-perishable, healthy snacks and drinks are needed - enough for groups of 40. Need snack donors for Mondays and Wednesdays at St. John's Catholic Church. Also, tutors are needed to volunteer this spring Mondays through Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
North Panola High School: Brittany Galloway; 423-426-4070, bngallow@gmail.com
As a high school serving a low-income population that lacks exposure to culture and the arts, the ability to grow and support a band program is crucial to the overall development of the students. Any type of instrument will gladly be accepted and every donation helps.
Memory Makers: Emily Fox, 662-234-3332 or agingmatters@gmail.com
Volunteers are needed to serve as "best friends" for individuals with memory loss, helping with setting up and cleaning up, leading singing and other activities. Needed items on a weekly basis include mini-muffins and soup, mixed nuts, coffee, and party napkins for coffee hour. Other needs include paper towels, Kleenex, toilet paper, all-purpose Windex cleaner, disinfectant wipes, flushable wipes, extra large and small trash bags, ink pens, and Solo cups.
More Than a Meal: Stacey E. B. Smith, 662-801-3961, sebs03@me.com
Infant/children items: Diapers (assorted sizes), baby wipes, baby wash, baby lotion, baby formula, toothbrushes, toothpaste, underwear (all sizes).
Toiletries: Deodorant (men's and women's), bath tissue, shampoo, conditioner, razors (men's and women's),
shaving cream, bar soap, lotion, tampons and liners, combs, brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes.
Other: Paper towels, warm winter jackets.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Robin Rae Burns, Robin.Burns@nmss.org
Volunteers are needed to help with the Walk MS Oxford event in April. Volunteers are needed now to help with publicity by distributing posters and brochures. Volunteers are also needed for the day of the walk and with other tasks two to three months before the April walk.
Oxford Lafayette Humane Society: Sarah Turcotte, 662-236-7631, olhsdirector@gmail.com
Animal Care: Cat & kitten food (Pedigree or Iams preferred), dog & puppy food (Pedigree or Iams preferred), dog/cat wet food (any brand), collars (all sizes, small to medium preferred), crates (all sizes), toys, durable dog toys (Kong brand, etc.), stuffed animals (new or used), polar fleece blankets or material.
Cleaning: Bleach, Dawn liquid soap, paper towels, towels (new or used), laundry detergent (powder or liquid), rubbing alcohol, medical scrubs (all sizes).
Office: Trash bags (all sizes), white copy paper, pens, post-it notes, staples, batteries (all sizes).
Oxford Lovepacks: Camie Bianco, cajuncam@bellsouth.net or Mary Leary, mwleary8@aol.com
Lovepacks is in need of easy open/pop top chicken noodle or vegetable soup and pop top ravioli. Easy to open non-perishable food item donations are welcome. Each week, Lovepacks sends food home to school children in Oxford and Lafayette County who might go without food on the weekends or during the holidays.
Pantry: Barbara Smith, 662-832-8001, bsmithx@yahoo.com orMary Edith Walker (to volunteer): msmewalker@bellsouth.net
Food staples such as canned fruit, oatmeal, grits, self-rising corn meal and self-rising flour (2 or 5lb packages), rice and spaghetti (1 lb packages), canned evaporated milk, canned chicken noodle soup (no- or low-sodium), and canned meats (e.g. Ravioli, Spaghetti O's, and Beanee Weenees).
Salvation Army: Lisa Coleman, 662-236-2260, lisa_coleman@uss.salvationarmy.org
The Salvation Army needs your help. There are two ways to help the Salvation Army this holiday season.
One is the 2012 Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree. Make the holidays happier for children in the Lafayette County area: businesses, organizations or individuals can volunteer to sponsor an Angel or Angel Tree.
The Salvation Army is planning to have only volunteers ring the bell this 2012 Red Kettle Season. The goal is to insure that every dollar received is used to help those less fortunate during the upcoming year. Churches, civic organizations, companies, schools, service clubs or individuals are urged to volunteer to ring the bell and help those less fortunate during the greatest giving time of the year. We can use your help for an hour or for a day.
Scott Center: Minnie Gates-Powell, 662-232-2860,mgates-powell@oxford.k12.ms.us
Office supplies: Post-it notes; HP ink #78; HP ink #45; Scotch tape; standard and mini-size staples; white stock paper; 2013 calendar planner; 2013 desk top calendar; lithium batteries (sizes AA, AAA); fine point black ink pens, clear contact paper.
Special Olympics Mississippi Area 4: Sarah Ball, 662-513-7900, sball@nmrc.state.ms.us
Sports equipment needed: soccer balls (youth and adult sizes), softball gloves (right and left handed gloves), softball bats (26 oz., 34 inches length), softball catcher gear, softball helmets (chin straps included, medium and large sizes), softball equipment (balls, rubber bases, tees), basketballs (indoor and outside, adult and youth sizes), and volleyballs
United Church Homes/Canterbury Crest: Donna Bratcher, 662-234-1012, canterburycrest@uchinc.org
A not-for-profit company providing housing for persons 62 years or older, or physically handicapped or mobility impaired, United Church Homes relies on the generous gifts of those who support the mission to provide exemplary senior living services. Donations are used to buy materials needed for improvement projects. Volunteers are needed to help complete projects or to just spend time getting to know residents. Items needed include: patio furniture and a grill for the patio, and flowers and greenery for flower gardens.
Volunteer projects: Excavation work to build a retaining wall to prevent the undermining of the building's foundation; covering the patio; planting a garden in the spring; and landscaping in front of the building. Volunteers are also needed to do activities with residents or just run errands.
United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County/LOU Excel by 5 Coalition:
Jennifer Hux, 662-236-4265, unitedway.jennifer@att.net
The United Way of Oxford & Lafayette County/LOU Excel by 5 Coalition are helping local pre-school classrooms by collecting much need school supplies. Donations of the following are needed: markers, crayons, glue, masking tape, Scotch tape, paint (washable tempra), large plain paper, colored construction paper, tissue paper, pencils (large diameter), colored pencils, collage assortments (colored macaroni noodles), craft sticks, Playdoh, water color pallets, yarn, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, swabs, newsprint paper, manila paper, materials scraps, manila file folders.
University of Mississippi School Supply Drive: Erin Mauffray, 662-915-1904, emauffray@gmail.com
The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University are working together to build a better Mississippi by teaming up to collect school supplies to benefit Mississippi school children. Needed items include: bookbags, writing utensils, art supplies, classroom supplies, Kleenex and Band-aids. Non-profit enrichment programs and public school classrooms will receive the supplies collected as a part of the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service.
Holiday Helpers: If you would like to lend a hand to a local family through the holidays, the following agencies may know of a family in need of help:
Interfaith Compassion Ministry, Lena Wiley, 662-281-1002
Salvation Army, Lisa Coleman, 662-236-2260
Doors of Hope Transition Ministry, Sherry Williams-Jenkins or Tammy Delcourt, 662-234-1100
The 2012 LOU Holiday Wish List is Sponsored by:
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