Eating Oxford: Feeding Our Neighbors after the Tornado

For many of us, the only experience we had with the recent tornado that swept through neighboring Holly Springs was through the images we saw on our local news station and social media. But for Chris Bramlett, owner/franchisee of Boneheads Oxford, and Ashley Wisch, partner and director of marketing and brand, they pass through the devastation every day on their way to and from work.

Volunteers with Boneheads prepare meals for tornado victims.

“When I left work on Christmas Eve and was detoured around the damage on Old Highway 7, my heart just sank,” said Wisch. “And when I got home I couldn’t stop thinking about the families who work so hard every day, looking forward to the time they would get to spend at home with their families. Now some of them didn’t have homes to come home to.”

On Christmas Day, Wisch and Bramlett reached out to Clayton Moore, director of city works and zoning at the City of Holly Springs, and asked what the needs were. “He said they needed 50 meals for linemen who were working to get the power back on.” Wisch said, “We immediately prepared the food and took it over.”

All of these meals will go to tornado victims.

This past Monday, Boneheads answered the call again, delivering an additional 250 meals to Holly Springs to help feed volunteers and linemen who continue to work on the damage. “We even had a couple of our customers like Maria Moya come out and help us serve food.” Wisch said, “It was great to have their help.”

“Just because you don’t hear about the tornado on the news anymore doesn’t mean they don’t need help in Holly Springs,” said Bramlett. “There’s still a lot to do and we’ll be back next week with more meals.” Wisch agreed and said that Boneheads will continue in its charity efforts. “It feels good to know you’re helping, and I want to continue to serve,” she said.

If you’d like to help Holly Springs alongside Boneheads, or for other disaster relief information, e-mail Ashley Wisch at info@boneheadsoxford.com.

(left to right) Chris Bramlett, Ashley Wisch, Patrol Commander David Cook, Dion Kevin III, Deputy Daniel Tatum, Dion Kevin II, Maria Moya

(left to right) Major Kelly McMillen, Dion Kevin III, Chris Bramlett, Ashley Wisch, Sheriff Kenny Dickerson, Maria Moya, Major Bobby Harris

(left to right) Assistant Fire Chief Rodney Crane, Chris Bramlett, and City of Holly Springs firemen Kevin White and Shane Womack

Liz Barrett Foster is the EatingOxford editor for HottyToddy.com, an award-winning business journalist, and author of the recently published Pizza: A Slice of American History. Liz has run the popular restaurant information site Eating Oxford since 2009. Liz can be reached at liz.foster@hottytoddy.com.

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