Helpers & Heroes

HELPERS and HEROES

A COMPILATION OF LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY HELPERS THAT MAKE AN IMPACT IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI.

LOU MHA: Mental Health Awareness

Lafayette Oxford University Mental Health Alliance has a daily mission. It is: “to strengthen collaborative relationships among mental health providers and related professionals and to advocate for the mental health needs of the community.”

In May, Mental Health Awareness Month, alliance members try to do extra. A social media campaign by LOU MHA includes asking individuals and businesses to wear green, download badges or use their hashtags — #mentalhealthawarenessmonth, #LOUMHA, #LOUCares — to show support of mental health. LOU MHA social media accounts will interact with anyone who uses the hashtags or tags the organization in posts.

LOU Cares signs will also be generated that may be downloaded and posted on social media. This will give those posting the opportunity to write about why mental health is important.

Oxford High School junior Avery Langley, along with her family, has volunteered with two local nonprofits that offer help to those facing food insecurity. So, it should come as no surprise that young Langley helped out when she noticed a need nearby, among her own classmates.

Last fall, Langley led in the launch of Loving Funds to help take care of outstanding school meal balances that can keep students from being able to participate in end-of-the-year school activities. Through Loving Funds, Langley was able to crowdsource $8,180 to pay those balances for Oxford High School students.

It all began when Langley was helping a single classmate with a different issue, but realized the lunch balance could keep the student from being a part of her graduation ceremony.

“We don’t always know the truth about a student’s financial stability, but I wanted to find a way to help,” Langley said. “Loving Funds is not about just handing out money. I want to help our classmates apply for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program so they know it’s private and not publicized to cause embarrassment.”

Oxford’s Love Packs, a 501(c)(3) that provides food to schoolchildren in need, supported Langley by making Loving Funds a designated fund, housing the money raised.

Learn more about LOU MHA and the May awareness initiative at linktr.ee/LOUMHA.

Loving Funds

Make a tax-deductible contribution to Loving Funds by mailing a check to Love Packs at P.O. Box 721, Oxford, MS 38655 or via Venmo (@Love-Packs).

HELPERS & HEROES continued

Dan Davis Scholarships

Dan Davis

Tupelo attorney Dan Davis has been known to take a break from the practice of law from time to time and take to the piano at Weezie’s Deli and Gifts. This is nothing new — he’s been offering a musical accompaniment to customers’ lunch for the past several years.

Davis accepts no payment for the sharing of his musical abilities, but there have been tips.

“When I started, Vivian Lee, the owner, said I needed a tip jar,” Davis said. “I didn’t like the idea, but she put one out. I realized giving people a way to express their appreciation has its place.”

Davis has saved all his tips, which, over time, have added up to almost $3,000. So, he decided to use his tip money to provide scholarships to three high school senior instrumentalists.

The scholarships will be paid directly to the college of each recipient’s choice. The first 18 seniors to apply for Davis’ scholarships were given audition times to perform a solo of their own choosing.

To hear Davis on the piano and perhaps offer a tip, stop in for lunch at Weezie’s Deli and Gifts, 2230 Rabbit Drive, Tupelo.