Five Ways to Give Back
With Thanksgiving break just days away, the season of giving is officially under way. UM faculty and staff can choose from several worthy initiatives to give back to the Ole Miss, Oxford and Lafayette County communities. We’ve rounded up some great efforts by university groups to help jump-start your season of giving.
1.) Help put Thanksgiving dinner on the table — Now in its ninth year, the UM Adopt-a-Basket program is collecting food items and soliciting volunteers to help feed local families during the Thanksgiving holiday. Donations of specific food items (see the list) and $35 gift cards from Larson’s, Kroger or Wal-Mart may be delivered to the Jackson Avenue Center plaza for collection on Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Prior to Nov. 20, items can also be dropped off in the Office of the Dean of Students in the Student Union, Room 422. Since the program’s creation, donors have provided Thanksgiving meals for more than 2,000 families in the community.
2.) Give gifts to the children of UM service workers — UM’s annual Books and Bears drive collects gifts for the children and grandchildren of Physical Plant service workers, many of whom work late hours as custodial staff or groundskeepers. Organized by the Black Faculty and Staff Organization, the toy drive collects new teddy bears, books and other toys. Drop off new toys beginning Nov. 25 at these locations: third floor of the Khayat Law Center; Graduate School; second floor of Vardaman Hall; the Office of the Provost in the Lyceum; Hume Hall, Room 305; the UM Box Office in the Student Union; Howry Hall, Room 308; the Yerby Center; and Farley Hall.
3.) Nominate a family in need — As the UM Physical Plant prepares its annual Christmas Basket Project, the staff is accepting nominations for families in need. Priority is given to members of the Ole Miss family. UM faculty or staff members who know of someone within their departments or elsewhere on campus who may need a little extra help during the holidays are encouraged to contact Angela Nardozzi at anardozz@olemiss.edu to receive a copy of the nomination form. Faculty and staff who would like to adopt a family and/or make donations to the Christmas Basket Project should contact Tiffany Edwards at tedwards@olemiss.edu. Baskets will be delivered before Christmas, and priority will be given to families who have not received assistance through this program in the past.
4.) Support your community — To give back to local programs focused on education, financial stability and health, consider donating to the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County, a nonprofit that affects the lives of more than 20,000 local families each year through partners such as the Boys & Girls Club of Oxford, the Lafayette County Literacy Council and Special Olympics. UM faculty and staff can choose a 12-month payroll deduction option. If you don’t have the funds to donate financially, the organization is always looking for volunteers. To donate, fill out and return the form that was delivered to all faculty/staff via campus mail in early November or contact Lucile McCook at 662-915-5488 or bymccook@olemiss.edu.
5.) Help feed Ole Miss students — As the semester winds down and student meal plans and FLEX dollars are depleted, the UM Food Bank experiences a rise in the number of clients it serves. Donations of single-serve, easy-to-prepare foods, such as canned fruit, instant oatmeal, granola bars, canned chicken and canned tuna, are needed. Food items that are ready to serve or can be easily prepared with hot water and a microwave are ideal for students’ needs. During regular school semesters, the food bank is open to students every day except Saturdays. Special hours are in effect during holiday and semester breaks. The food bank does not record personal information about its clients, and all students are welcome to access the service when needed. Faculty and staff may drop off donations at any time outside Kinard 213.
Have a great giving opportunity? Send the information to insideolemiss@olemiss.edu for a chance to be featured in Inside Ole Miss.