Once again, Oxford proved how generous and compassionate it can be through the Downtown Development Authority’s ‘Giving Trees? program that ran throughout the holiday season from Nov. 27 to Dec. 31.
Donors contributed approximately $895 and 650 nonperishable food items to nine local charitable organizations that do everything from feeding the hungry and assisting at-risk youth to helping senior citizens and giving refuge to abused women and children.
A total of 54 businesses within the DDA district participated in the program, which encouraged shoppers to donate at least $10 or 10 nonperishable food items wherever a ‘Giving Tree? was erected.
Living up to their motto ‘We Work,? members of the Oxford High School varsity boys basketball team went around to businesses Saturday collecting the donations and trees.
According to Michael Johnson, the DDA’s events coordinator, the money will be split evenly among seven of the charities, while the food items will be divided between Oxford/Orion FISH and Meals on Wheels.
Nonprofits receiving money include Banbury Cross, Crossroads for Youth, HAVEN, Love INC, Orion/Oxford Boys and Girls Club, Problem Pregnancy Center and Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance.
As part of the ‘Giving Tree? program, donors got to enter a random drawing for a $500 prize to be spent at businesses located in the DDA district.
Of the 130 entries, longtime Oxford resident Sharon Weir was lucky enough to have her name drawn Monday.
‘I’m very excited,? she said.
Weir is not yet sure exactly how she’s going to spend all that money.
‘They said they’d give me a few days to think about it,? she said. ‘I know they’ve got some new places to eat down there and I’m curious about those.?
The two downtown spots she spends the most time at are ReGina Paul Salons and Curves. In fact, the salon is where she entered the contest by donating some food.
‘I really want to thank the receptionist at ReGina Paul who told me about it,? Weir said.
? Editor C.J. Carnacchio