Neighborhood Philanthropy: The Pantry of Oxford & Lafayette County
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. The Pantry of Oxford & Lafayette County has helped thousands of Oxford and Lafayette County citizens each year since 1982 by providing food to low-income families and the elderly living on a fixed income. The Pantry recently underwent a much needed renovation and expansion project to provide storage and access for refrigerated and frozen food. They “re-opened” on September 6, 2023 in their updated space. Since opening back, they have served 590 – 750 clients monthly.
Located on the property next to the Oxford Police Department on Molly Barr Road, The Pantry serves our most vulnerable in the Oxford and Lafayette county community. Open 50 weeks a year, the Pantry opens its doors each Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am – 11:00 am. It serves over 650 families each month. There are eligibility requirements for those needing assistance, but John Kohne, coordinating director of the Pantry, encourages anyone struggling with food insecurity to reach out and apply for assistance.
The Pantry of Oxford & Lafayette County is completely run by community volunteers. A volunteer recently shared on their Facebook page, “The Pantry runs on help from the community. Everyone who works there is a volunteer - no one gets paid. Every penny we receive goes to the purchase of food, and to the maintenance of the Pantry building.” They are always in need of weekly volunteers and financial support. To volunteer, please call 662-832-8001 to find out more information. To donate, you can pay using their PayPal account (QR code in photos) or mail your donation to P.O. Box 588 Oxford, MS 38655.
There are also two fund-raising opportunities coming up this month. On Friday, February 9th from 6-9 PM at the Power House, be sure to buy a $100 ticket to join others in celebrating The Pantry with a fun night out featuring The Curtis Downs Orchestra. You can buy tickets here. The second opportunity is The Pantry’s main fund-raising event, Empty Bowls, which will take place from 11 am – 1 pm at the Oxford Conference Center on Thursday, February 15th.
We are so grateful to have The Pantry of Oxford & Lafayette County help our most vulnerable residents, and we applaud the dedicated volunteers and local churches for keeping The Pantry stocked and ready each week. For more information, please call (662) 832-8001, follow them on Facebook or send monetary donations to P.O. Box 588 Oxford, MS 38655 (the QR code is below).
