{"id":166165,"date":"2026-09-23T11:33:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T16:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=166165"},"modified":"2026-09-23T11:34:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T16:34:00","slug":"ole-miss-celebrates-dolly-parton-with-day-of-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/ole-miss-celebrates-dolly-parton-with-day-of-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Ole Miss Celebrates Dolly Parton with Day of Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Organizers encourage volunteering and charitable giving to honor legendary entertainer and humanitarian<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Marisa C. Atkinson<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dolly Parton<\/strong> was known for her blonde wigs, catchy songs and Imagination Library<\/strong>. But what she will be remembered for is her service to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To celebrate her life, service and philanthropy, Oxford will host a Dolly Day of Service<\/strong> on Friday (September 25).\u00a0The date is a playful nod to one of Parton’s best-known songs, “9 to 5.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0University of Mississippi<\/strong><\/a>‘s\u00a0Center for Community Engagement<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Institute for the Arts<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0have partnered to encourage people to wear pink \u2013 maybe even a Dolly wig \u2013 and volunteer that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When Kevin Cozart<\/strong> (from the Sarah Isom Center) and I heard the news that Dolly had passed away, we wanted to do something to commemorate her life and to\u00a0encourage people to perform some act of service and charity on 9\/25,” said Elizabeth Speed<\/strong>, assistant director for community partnerships at the Center for Community Engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents have numerous ways to participate through volunteering in Oxford <\/strong>and Lafayette County<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Legendary entertainer Dolly Parton performs at the University of Mississippi in May 2022 for the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy’s Legacy Dinner. Several Ole Miss organizations have organized a day of service in honor of the late Dolly Parton for Friday (Sept. 25). Photo by Kirsten Simpson\/UM Development<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“Getting involved and volunteering in the community is a great way to connect and create experiences that enrich your own life and improve the quality of life for others,” Speed said. “Thankfully at the university, we have\u00a0GrovePulse<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(the university’s volunteer management platform) to find many opportunities to volunteer in the community and on campus.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as Dolly celebrated the many different colors and experiences that make up a community; volunteers can choose how they want to give back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opportunities for service during the Dolly Day of Service can also be found on the city of Oxford’s volunteer site,\u00a0Stronger Together<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From books and food to financial gifts, many ways to help are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People can donate new children’s books or nonperishable food for the\u00a0Grove Grocery<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or make monetary donations to the Lafayette High School<\/strong> band or\u00a0theater department<\/a>\u00a0or the\u00a0Oxford High School <\/strong>band<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0theater department<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteers will collect donations at 7 p.m. in Lamar Hall<\/strong>, Room 131, during the evening’s movie screening of “Steel Magnolias,”<\/strong>\u00a0a fitting choice for a celebration that combines Southern culture, friendship and service.\u00a0Admission is free but registration is requested at\u00a0https:\/\/givepul.se\/jlxjl0<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Volunteering and making charitable gifts are a perfect way to honor Dolly’s life and legacy,” Speed said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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