The Holiday Wish List is published annually by Volunteer Connection, a service of the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County, for the convenience of clubs, churches, businesses, and individuals in planning holiday and year round projects.

This list contains needs and wants of local schools and non-profit agencies and other agencies that need volunteers. It offers lots of possibilities. Whether you choose to sponsor a holiday party for children, provide for the needs of a low-income family, give a local organization much-needed supplies or volunteer help, your contribution is greatly appreciated.

The organizations listed below will welcome your offer of help. You may call the contact person directly, or call the United Way at 236-4265 to obtain further information. Have a wonderful Holiday Season – it is in giving that we receive! Live United.

American Red Cross, Bebo Howell, redcross@dixie-net.com, 662-236-1282, needs cots and air mattresses for shelter victims and storage facility for supplies and records. 

Angel Ranch, Sue Stone Turner, 662-234-3320, angelranchinc@netscape.net, Angel Ranch would like gift cards/certificates to Kroger, Big Star, Wal-Mart, Malco, Subway, Domino's and Skateland. 

Baptist Hospice of North Mississippi, Debbie Lone, 662 578 8402;

Baptist Hospice needs volunteers to assist and visit with patients, playing games, doing puzzles, reading to them. Volunteer training and a volunteer support system is offered. 

Boys and Girls Club of North MS, Christy Grice, 662-832-0602, cgrice@bgcnms.org; Color Markers, Construction Paper, Dodge Balls, Nurf  Balls, Pool Ball Set, Pool Sticks, Paint, Scissors, Glue Sticks , Candy Canes, White Card Stock Paper, Red Card Stock Paper, & Angle Breakfast Volunteer.

Bramlett Elementary, Karen Akey or Suzanne Liddell, 662-234-2685, sliddell@oxford.k12.ms.us, needs clothes for the Clothes Closet, including but not limited to the following: two piece sweat suits (sizes 4-10), boys underwear (sizes 4-10), socks for children (sizes 5-12), coats (sizes 5-12); volunteer sponsors for parties; print cartridges for classroom printers; Kleenex; and Germ-X.

Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, Meg Frazier, megfrazier@msdiabetes.org, 662-232-2777, needs Wal-Mart gift cards to purchase medications/supplies for needy patients, as well as supplies for school emergency boxes, newly diagnosed kids backpacks and camp supplies, and volunteers for next year’s spring events.

Domestic Violence Project, Talunja Eskridge, 662-236-5026, talunja@hotmail.com or familyviolence@hotmail.com, needs toys for babies and toddlers; feminine hygiene products; pens; cleaning supplies, paper (copy and ruled); clothing for babies, toddlers, teenagers, and women; and gifts for women and teenagers

Family Crisis Services, Lea Anne Lemmons, 662-234-9929, familycrisis2003@yahoo.com, needs sweat pants/shorts (sizes small-xxxl); t-shirts/sweatshirts (sizes small-xxxl); bottled water; Kleenex; new games; children’s movies; volunteers for crisis line, special events,and administrative help

Graceland Care Center, Vicki Skidmore, 662-234-7821, falkner@gracelandcare.com, needs jogging suits, nightgowns, pajamas, t-shirts, lotion, costume jewelry, lap blankets, radios, music CD’s, & movies.  

Hermitage Gardens, Carrie Cox, 662-234-8244, Welcomes volunteers or groups to entertain residents for the holidays. 

Interfaith Compassion Ministry (ICM), Lena Wiley, 662-281-1002; needs gift certificates from local grocers to provide meals for needy families during the holiday season and need extra volunteers for the Christmas Store.

Lafayette County Literacy Council, Susan Phillips, 662-234-4234, literacycouncil@oxfordreads.org, needs volunteers to tutor adult learners in reading, to help register children under the age of five for “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library” , and to sponsor a child’s participation in Imagination Library, with a $25.00 donation which will provide a child with a book mailed directly to the child’s home each month from the child’s birth until their fifth birthday.

Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library, Dotsy Fitts, 234-5751; They need bags of popcorn kernels and oil and paper napkins.

Leap Frog, Rebecca Hare, 662-234-2411, leapfrogassistant@gmail.com

New or gently used children's book appropriate for 1st and 2nd grade students.Non perishable, healthy snacks and drinks enough for groups of 30. Electric Pencil sharpener (2) Writing tablets for 1st and 2nd grade students. Any type of kid friendly art supplies. As well as outdoor sports balls to the list, i.e. soccer, kickballs, footballs, really any type of play balls.

MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Shantay Griffith at 601-939-0233;   need victim advocate volunteers (training provided). Also need volunteers to help with Legislative session, court monitoring volunteers and coordinators for Youth in Action teams.

Mary Cathey Center, 662-234-3230, lindamcadory@yahoo.com

needs adopters for children’s parties; refreshments; sponsors for Center t-shirts for 160 children, ages 3-4; people to “adopt” a family to provide winter coats, clothes, etc.; and sponsor for pizza party, clothing (3)ST, 4T, 3T.

9 Lives Cat Rescue, (662) 202-4587 or (662) 816-5600, nine_lives_cat_rescue@hotmail.com ; dry cat food, dry kitten food, canned cat food, scoopable litter, donations for vet bills, towels, paper towels, laundry detergent, bleach, and Advantage or Revolution Flea Treatment

Oxford Elementary School, Evelyn Smith, 662-234-3497, esmith@oxford.k12.ms.us, needs backpacks for students; winter coats (sizes 8 -16); sweat suits, sweaters, (sizes 6-16); Band-Aids; Ziploc bags; and children’s gloves and hats.

Oxford Lafayette Humane Shelter, Hattie Alton, 662-236-7631, info@oxfordpets.com, Animal Needs: Dry Cat Food, Dry Kitten Food, Dry Dog Food (no red dye), Dry Puppy Food (no red dye), Kitten.puppy milk replacement , Pedialite, Leftover antibiotics, Flea/Tick Spray, Portable Metal Dog runs, Pet carriers, crates, kennels, Dog/Cat Treats, Stainless steel pet bowls, Collars,

Shoeboxes, Heating pads, Toys for dogs/cats, Bandana fabric, Dog/cat beds, Leashes. Office Needs: Copy paper, Stamos, Post its, 3 ring binders, Notebook dividers, Label maker, Laptop Computer Batteries, Digital Camera.

Shelter Needs: Tarps, Fans Plastic watering cans, Fishing pets, Plastic storage boxes, Rubber boots, Scrub brushes, Disinfecting spray, Clorox wipes, Cotton balls, Paper towels, Toilet paper, Duct tape, Spray nozzle for hose, Short length hose, Brooms, &Trash bags.

Pantry, Barbara Smith, bsmithx@yahoo.com, needs food staples such as, canned fruit, oatmeal, grits, self-rising corn meal and self-rising flour (2 or 5lbs 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 Beannie Wieners). 

Salvation Army, Lisa Coleman, 662-236-2260, oxforsa@bellsouth.net, Our community depends on us to make their Christmas celebrations special, and we at The Salvation Army spend months literally prepping to make sure we can deliver. This year more than ever, The Salvation Army is asking for the community's help. The angel tree program adopts disadvantaged children and makes sure they have a wonderful Christmas. This program is really a labor of love for us. Please stop by 2617 West Oxford Loop today and adopt an angel today or make a monetary donation to Angel Tree. We also need blankets to keep clients warm this winter, coats – any size, and children’s clothes – all sizes needed. 

Scott Center, Charles Dodson, 662-232-2860, cdodson@oxford.k12.ms.us,

For pre-vocational class: needs printer ink cartridges (HP#57 & #56), 2 rolls of clear contact paper; white card stock paper; 7 calculators; ink pens (black); color copier paper (red, green, yellow, orange and blue); 3-ring binders; AA Lithium2 batteries; AAA batteries; hand sanitizer and renuzits. For multi-talented class: stick-on Velcro(strips and dots); all sizes of Ziploc bags; stickers for student rewards; children’s books on tape; children’s books; paper towels; paper plates (no Styrofoam please); cans of Lysol; bottles of Febreeze; bubbles; glitter; children’s music CD’s; hole punch; painters tape; Kodak photo paper for inkjet printers; small cooler (for field trips; with wheels, if possible); easy children’s board games (for young children, not many pieces); printer ink cartridges (HP #56 and #57). Other needs: Ink cartridges HP # 56 & 57); construction paper (dark blue, holiday red, bright white, yellow, dark green, dark brown, black, orange); white poster boards (large and 11x14); brown paper bags (lunch size); 3-ring binders (1 and 1/2inch thick for scrapbook project; 6 needed); cardstock (white and assorted colors); tape (packing and scotch); colored pencils; printer ink cartridges (#23 and #45); craft sticks; microwave; child’s hammock; glue gun and sticks; large beanbag chairs and adult scissors.

The Christmas Store, Tom Kingery, 238-2802, OxfordChristmasStore@gmail.com, needs volunteers to assist with shopping, toy sorting, and distribution, as well as toy donations or store gift cards to purchase toys for eligible children in Oxford and Lafayette County who might not otherwise have Christmas. Send email to volunteer and for toy pickup, or donations/gift cards to

United Blood Service, Christy Scheuer, Donor Recruitment Representative, 662-842-8871, ascheuer@bloodsystems.org;United Blood Services needs cheerful givers to give the gift of life this holiday season. The holidays are the most difficult time to meet patients’ needs because our schedules become busier with commitments to shop, eat and fellowship with friends and family. For more information about a blood drive in your area, contact Donor Recruitment Representative.

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:

Domestic Violence Project, Martha Crawford, 662-236-5026.

Interfaith Compassion Ministry, Lena Wiley, 662-281-1002.

Mary Cathey Center, Linda McAdory, 662-234-3230.

Salvation Army, Lisa Coleman, 662-236-2260.