American Red Cross – Northwest Mississippi Chapter
Address: 2706 West Oxford Loop Suite 105
Contact: Chapter Manager, Jennifer Coleman; (662) 236-1282
Website: http://northeastms.redcross.org/
The local Red Cross office can use general office help (answering the telephone and cleaning) and volunteers to assist in special fundraising. Students can also take classes to become certified Red Cross health and safety instructors and to be on call as a part of the National Disaster System. Volunteers are also needed to help the families of men and women in the military stay in touch with their relatives in the service. The Red Cross prefers to have volunteers that can dedicate 1/2 day of work per week (3 or 4 hours on a specific day each week) for the duration of a semester or more.
There is a confidentiality agreement concerning the services.
The Christmas Store
Contact: Maxine and Norman Nelson; (662) 234-6677; OxfordChristmasStore@gmail.com
The Christmas Store collects and distributes new toys and other gifts for children whose parents would otherwise not be able to provide “Santa Claus.” Hundreds of families are assisted every year. Based at First Presbyterian Church, The Christmas Store is sponsored by a number of churches and other local organizations.
During the fall each year, the program contacts local businesses for assistance with providing volunteers and donations to assist with the store’s operations. Students are wanted to help address envelopes and mail letters to these businesses during September and October. Monetary and toy donations are accepted at all times during the year and should be taken to First Presbyterian Church.
They will also be cleaning and organizing the toy rooms. Watch the Honors College listserv for any particular opportunities in this regard.
The Christmas Store will distribute toys in early December. Volunteers are needed to assist parents in selecting gifts and to wrap gifts each day from 4-6 PM. They will also need help the first Saturday in December from 8-5. The Honors College will have a sign-up sheet available before Thanksgiving for those who are interested in helping. Other volunteers are needed to help with setup and cleanup — if you have a group of people who can take on one of these jobs, contact Mrs. Nelson.
Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association
Address: 910 Vance Ave., Memphis, TN 38173
Contact: Charlie Nelson; (901) 527-0208; cnelson@mifa.org, mifa@mifa.org, www.mifa.org
The Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association needs donations of time, leadership, and services for its work in the Memphis area. MIFA has programs in Food and Nutrition, Housing and Life Skills, Family Support, Youth Partnerships, Elder Outreach, and Community Initiatives. Check the website for different volunteer opportunities every month.
Mississippi Blood Services
Address: 2627 West Oxford Loop, Suite C
Contact: Lolita Gregory; (662) 234-0363
Website: http://www.msblood.com/
Blood Services can always use volunteers to help organize blood drives. They also need you to donate your blood. Find out where to go (there is often a blood drive going on locally) by calling the office number above.
The Pantry
Contact: Mary Edith Walker; (662) 513-5250; mfmewalker@bellsout.net or June Rosentreter; (662) 234-8063; jrosent@att.net
The Pantry is a community organization that provides food for persons in emergency situations in Oxford and Lafayette County. The Pantry is located on Molly Barr Rd, next to the police station. Volunteers are needed on Tuesdays for stocking and Wednesday mornings to serve food. Wednesday morning hours are generally 9-11, but if you can only go for an hour, that is fine. Tuesday hours vary. Each month the managers will change, but stocking is still needed for every month, especially in November and December. Please contact Mrs. Rosentreter or Mr. Broadway before showing up.
United Way
Address: 440 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 5
Contact:Ryan Upshaw; (662) 915-7294; rlupshaw@olemiss.edu
Website: http://www.unitedwayoxfordms.org/
United Way conducts its annual fundraising campaign in September, October, and November. There are also many ways you can help out at the United Way office during the rest of the year. E-mail Ryan Upshaw, the Ole Miss United Way Campus Representative, for more information.