Fresh vegetables, school supplies and snack kits are rolling out across Sarnia-Lambton this summer, as The Inn of the Good Shepherd expands its seasonal support programs for families.
The Inn of the Good Shepherd is delivering fresh produce, nutritious snacks and school supplies to families across Sarnia-Lambton this summer through three key programs: the Mobile Market, the Snack Pack Program and the Back to School initiative.
The Mobile Market, now in its 15th season, launched on July 2 and runs weekdays with 18 weekly stops throughout Sarnia and Lambton County. The travelling produce truck offers free fresh vegetables to anyone in need, giving food bank clients a chance to access nutritious food more frequently than the standard 21-day food bank schedule.
“The typical mobile market will have up to 12 different vegetables, including potatoes, corn, carrots, cabbage, beans and squash,” said Myles Vanni, executive director of The Inn. “We’ll be distributing over 8,000 pounds of produce every week.”
Produce is donated by local farmers, greenhouse growers and community gardeners. Information sheets at each stop offer tips on freezing vegetables so they last through the winter. The Inn also partners with Lambton Public Health and other agencies that join the market route to share wellness resources and health information.
The Mobile Market addresses more than food insecurity. A 2009 TD Bank study linked poverty to higher healthcare costs and estimated that it adds $2,600 in tax burden to the average Ontario household each year. Access to fresh food, Vanni noted, is a vital step in closing the health gap for low-income residents.
The Inn encourages gardeners to donate excess produce directly to its John Street location. Pembina Pipeline is once again the lead sponsor for the Mobile Market.
Alongside the vegetable distribution, the Snack Pack Program is providing weekly nutrition to elementary-aged children during the summer break. Each pack contains enough snacks to support two per day for a week, with items such as yogurt tubes, fruit, cheese sticks, pudding cups, juice boxes and Fruit2Go.
“After the bell rings in June, no school also means no student nutrition programs. That puts a strain on parents who rely on those supports,” said Vanni. “Our Snack Packs mean kids are getting the nutrition they need for fun, active play.”
Launched in 2016 at one Sarnia location, the Snack Pack Program now reaches multiple neighbourhoods across the region, including Corunna, Thedford, Kettle Point, Watford and Alvinston. Last summer, the program served over 8,500 pounds of produce and snacks to children in need.
Noelle’s Gift is the lead sponsor for the Snack Pack Program, with support from Food Banks Canada, the Catherine Wilson Foundation and Suncor.
The Inn is also preparing more than 1,200 Back to School kits to be distributed in late August. The backpacks are grade-specific and contain essential school supplies such as calculators, math sets, markers, rulers and notebooks. Each pack also includes snacks and drink boxes.
Donations of school supplies or pre-packed kits from Manley’s Basics can be dropped off at The Inn through July and August. Backpacks will be distributed through The Inn, Temple Baptist Church and several partner agencies including Circles, Children’s Aid, the North Lambton Health Centre and rural food banks.
“The summer never slows down as we work to make sure kids and families have a great season,” said Vanni. “We are blessed that the community supports these programs so generously.”
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