Chip Burr (front left), resident district manager for Ole Miss Dining, presents a check for $25,000 donation to Betsy Chapman, director of the Oxford Community Market, to assist in the market's operations. Several of the market's vendors and Ole Miss Dining personnel also attended the presentation. Submitted photo
University of Mississippi food services donates $25,000 to assist area residents
In an effort to support local farmers and sustainability, Ole Miss Dining has made a substantial donation to the Oxford Community Market.
In support of the University of Mississippi‘s vision for transforming lives and serving others, Ole Miss Dining presented a check for $25,000 to Betsy Chapman, the market’s director.
“Ole Miss Dining wanted to recognize the amazing work Betsy Chapman and the OXCM are performing in our community and to strongly reinforce our commitment to sustainability and local purchasing,” said Chip Burr, resident district manager for the campus food service provider. “Through our contribution, we hope the OXCM is better equipped to improve conditions that contribute directly to food insecurity and improve accessibility to healthy, local food.”
Market personnel and clients were overwhelmed with the gift, Chapman said.
“Our board, staff, farmers, and community are extremely grateful for this gift,” Chapman said. “To be recognized by Ole Miss Dining in such a big way means the world to us because it makes us feel recognized for the work that we’ve been doing all these years.”
The market’s mission is to improve access to healthy, local food for the Oxford area, especially to underserved communities, Chapman said.
“OXCM believes that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food,” she said. “Our goal is to expand all of our efforts building a local food community that works for everyone, where friends gather, families learn, kids play and life is good.”
Beyond the financial contribution, Ole Miss Dining also donated about 500 pounds of local goods to OXCM’s Harvest Angel Project. The nonprofit takes the donated items and distributes them to local families in need.
“We were in awe of the numerous initiatives the OXCM spearheads and wanted to show our support,” Burr said. “Hopefully, this helps accelerate their mission.”
By Edwin B. Smith
