Neighborhood Philanthropy: Lovepacks
Oxford is host to some wonderful non-profit organizations that provide for our Oxford is host to some wonderful non-profit organizations that provide for our community in so many ways. We want to provide a glimpse of these organizations each month. Lovepacks was started when a local teacher noticed a child’s backpack dripping while walking down the hall. The child had packed unfinished milk cartons into his backpack to take home so he’d have milk at home. This story inspired Mary Leary and Helen Phillips (with the help of school counselor, Linda Vaughn at Bramlett Elementary) to form Lovepacks.
Founded in 2010, Lovepacks started with 10 packs coming out of Mary, Helen and other volunteers own kitchens. They quickly realized the need to feed local Oxford children was far greater than they had initially thought. They received 501(c)3 non-profit status in 2012, and the service expanded to all eleven schools within the Oxford/Lafayette school district. They, along with a host of wonderful volunteers, are now sending out an astounding 280 packs a week!
Like any non-profit organization, it takes a great team of volunteers to make it happen! Each week, Brent Larson of Larson’s Big Star and his team order the needed food and help load every Wednesday afternoon to stock the Lovepacks pantries. William Norris of Baptist Memorial Hospital provides fresh fruit each week for all of the schools. A special group of special-needs students from OMS, OHS and LES help the Lovepacks team of volunteers pack the food each week. As Lovepacks board member and volunteer, Liza Fruge, recently shared, “Our delivery days are Wednesdays. We have an amazing team of special needs kids that pack for us at each of our pantries - OMS, OHS, and LES. These people make our job fun! They bring their A-game every week & their joy is contagious! Wednesdays are 100% the best days because we get to enjoy a real spirit of community!”
Lovepacks is always in need of food and monetary donations. As Liza shared, “We are lucky! We have had a long relationship with in the Oxford & Lafayette community. All food & monetary donations go 100% directly to the students we serve. Nevertheless, we are always in need of monetary donations. Each lovepack costs around $5. For 1 week, our food expenses are approximately $1400. We also love for people or groups to help with food drives or just a few extra jars of peanut butter when you think of it, every little bit helps!”
Lovepacks is looking for student sponsors! Starting in August, Lovepacks wants to line up student sponsors for the entire year. $100 would cover a child for one semester and $200 would cover a child for the entire year. A sponsor can be an individual or a group/business. Contact Lovepacks atlovepacks@gmail.comto become a sponsor for the 2023-2024 school year!
We are so grateful to Lovepacks and its hosts of volunteers for providing supplemental food for our school-aged children in need each weekend and holidays. Please consider donating or becoming more involved as a volunteer or mentor. Contact Lovepacks at lovepacks@gmail.com or mail a donation to P.O. Box 721 Oxford, MS 38655.
