Mission Partners:
Angel Tree: Ministry that organizes and provides Christmas gifts, toys, and clothing to local needy children. OU works with the local Salvation Army to screen applicants and enlists church families to provide gifts.
Beds for Kids: A program from Families First for Mississippi that ensures all children across the state have a bed. OU partners with Beds for Kids to build and deliver the beds. Donations of bedding, pillows, blankets, bibles, and food are welcome.
Boys and Girls Club: A national organization that provides a safe place that is a positive and productive outlet for community children when they have free time and might otherwise be on the streets. Daily after-school program and summer day camp. OU provides financial support and a member serves on the board.
Doors of Hope: Non-profit organization that supports homeless people as they transition from homelessness to self- sufficiency. Clients are housed four-six months and are supervised and supported by a licensed social worker as they find work or further their education.
Habitat for Humanity: Non-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry inviting volunteers to build houses together in partnership with families in need. OU has sponsored the building of 8 of the 13 houses built by Oxford-Lafayette Habitat.
Leap Frog: Non-profit after school tutoring and enrichment program for at-risk first-third graders in the Oxford City and Lafayette County schools. OU partners with St. Peter’s Episcopal Church to provide financial support and provides meeting space and snacks twice a week.
Interfaith Compassion Ministries: Collaborative effort among local churches to provide assistance with basic needs such as rent, utilities, and prescription drug program in a centralized location to individuals in Lafayette County who face crisis situa- tions. ICM is the main agency working with homeless. OU provides financial support as well as a Board member and volunteers.
Meals on Wheels: Program that delivers meals to home-bound and elderly of Oxford and Lafayette County.
More Than a Meal: Provides free, nutritious meals, educational tutoring for children, speakers, and essential toiletries to anyone in Oxford on Tuesday evenings during the school year at the Stone Center.
Operation Life Vision (Alex’s Kids): Non-profit organization that reaches out to at-risk youth in Lafayette County. This program provides after-school tutoring, mentoring, leadership & character building, conflict resolution, and educational/recreational field trips. OU provides meals during after school programming, raises money to send kids to camp at Kanakuk, and helps with Thanksgiving and Christmas events.
The Pantry: All-volunteer food distribution organization providing families in need with a week’s supply of food and staples. Delivers food to homebound clients. OU maintains the Pantry every January by organizing volunteers to unload and stock Tuesdays and head distribution Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Women’s Prison Ministry: Provides weekly devotional sessions with women prisoners at the local jail. Supports releasees with toiletries, clothing, and other assistance; encourages church attendance for releasees; helps releasees find jobs and places to live.
For more information about any of our Mission-Outreach opportunities, email Pat Forrester.
