The Inn of the Good Shepherd
The Inn of the Good Shepherd is a nonprofit in Sarnia-Lambton providing food bank services, daily hot meals, emergency shelter, and a range of supports for families and children. The organization distributes over 75,000 pounds of food monthly, serves 100-plus warm meals each day, and shelters 40-plus people nightly while operating outreach programs such as a Mobile Market, children’s supports, and free tax clinics. Programs rely on donations, volunteers, community fundraisers, and corporate sponsorships to meet local needs with dignity and compassion.
🕰️ Organization Hours:
Last updated on Jan 29th, 2026
Recent Activity
Surf INN Turf 2026 Sponsorship Appeal
Become a sponsor of Surf INN Turf 2026 to support The Inn of the Good Shepherd programs in Sarnia Lambton, including monthly food distribution, daily warm meals, and nightly shelter. Sponsorship tiers range from Gold to Supporting Sponsorship, and businesses can learn how to secure packages at the event website.
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National Volunteer Week — Volunteer Recruitment
To mark National Volunteer Week, The Inn of the Good Shepherd thanks its volunteers and invites new people to get involved. The post directs interested helpers to visit the organization's website and click GET INVOLVED to learn about volunteer opportunities.
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Smile Cookie fundraiser — April 27 to May 3, 2026
From April 27 to May 3, 2026, participating Tim Hortons in Sarnia and Bright's Grove will donate proceeds from Smile Cookie purchases to The Inn of the Good Shepherd. Buy a cookie to support meals, shelter, and children's programs during this weeklong local fundraiser.
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Surf INN Turf
Surf INN Turf is a fundraiser dinner from The Inn of the Good Shepherd in Sarnia Ontario that pairs steak and lobster with community fundraising, and tickets are available now. Every ticket helps the Inn continue serving thousands across Sarnia-Lambton, making this an evening of great food and local impact.
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Spring Cooking Class: Vegan Essentials
Spring Cooking Class: Vegan Essentials with Greens is a hands on fundraiser for The Inn on Monday, May 4 from 5:00 to 7:30 PM in Sarnia. Tickets are $60 each or two for $100, and the evening includes practical plant based techniques, a shared meal, and a signature cocktail or mocktail.
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Cooking for a Cause with Greens
Cook plant based dishes with Greens on Monday, May 4 from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM in a hands on Vegan Essentials class that supports The Inn of the Good Shepherd. Tickets are $60 each or 2 for $100, the evening ends with a shared meal and a signature cocktail or mocktail, and spots are limited so scan the QR code or visit Greens' page to grab yours.
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Shop for a Cause at Choice Thrift
Choice Thrift is hosting Shop for a Cause on April 18 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 141 Christina Street in Sarnia, with 50% of all sales donated to The Inn of the Good Shepherd. Spend a few hours browsing thrift finds and know your purchases will help fund food, shelter, and care for local people in need.
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Surf INN Turf
Surf INN Turf is The Inn of the Good Shepherd's lively fundraiser pairing dinner and a live auction to support people who rely on the organization. Tickets are on sale now at the event page, and the evening promises great food, high energy, and community driven fundraising.
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Surf INN Turf 2026
Surf INN Turf 2026 invites Sarnia to a patio evening of steak and lobster, auctions, games, and live entertainment to support The Inn of the Good Shepherd. Tickets are on sale now at the event page, so secure your seat and bring friends for a memorable community fundraiser.
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Food donations drive
The Inn of the Good Shepherd asks Sarnia Lambton residents to donate shelf stable food, noting they distribute more than 75,000 pounds of food each month to 800 households and 2,475 people, including 940 children. Drop off at The Inn (115 John St.), The Lodge (950 Confederation St.), seasonal fire hall drives, or most local grocery stores; consider buying sale items to make your donation go further.
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Shop for a Cause - April 18
The Inn of the Good Shepherd announced Shop for a Cause for Saturday, April 18 in a brief April 8 post. The announcement confirms the date but does not provide time, location, or cost, so contact the organization for full event details.
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Empty Bowls
The Inn of the Good Shepherd warns that the 7:00 PM seating for Empty Bowls is almost sold out and urges people to secure tickets soon. The fundraiser uses a simple bowl of soup to raise money for food, shelter, and support for local individuals and families, with the final relevance date inferred as April 9, 2026 based on the published urgency.
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Empty Bowls ticket reminder
Only 35 tickets remain for the 7:00 PM seating at Empty Bowls, hosted by The Inn of the Good Shepherd, so act quickly if you want a spot. The event pairs local soups and handcrafted bowls with fundraising for vital community programs, though no ticket price or booking link was provided in the announcement.
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Easter weekend service update
The Inn of the Good Shepherd announced that offices and food bank administrative locations will be closed for Easter weekend, but meals will still be available for those who need them. The brief notice does not include contact details or pickup instructions; it affirms continued meal support and sends a holiday greeting.
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Community support programs
The Inn of the Good Shepherd details a system of care across Sarnia-Lambton, from a food bank and daily hot meals to rent and utility assistance, children's programs, Mobile Market access, and free tax clinics. The post asks the community to share the message or reach out to learn how to help, emphasizing ongoing, year round impact rather than a single event.
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Food bank donation drop-off locations and needs
The Inn of the Good Shepherd is asking for grocery donations to support a program that distributes more than 75,000 pounds of food each month to 800 households, helping 2,475 people including 940 children. Drop off sale items at The Inn (115 John St.), The Lodge (950 Confederation St.), participating fire halls during seasonal drives, or at most Sarnia-Lambton grocery stores.
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Monthly food distribution update
The Inn of the Good Shepherd says its monthly food distributions now total over 75,000 pounds, reaching individuals and families across Sarnia-Lambton. The update highlights growing community need, thanks donors and volunteers, and directs readers to the organization website or team to learn how to help.
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CANstruction 2026 results
The Inn of the Good Shepherd announced CANstruction 2026 winners on March 29, 2026, reporting that the build brought in over 32,000 pounds of food for local families in Sarnia. The post thanks teams, sponsors, and community voters, highlighting measurable community impact and shared celebration.
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Empty Bowls ticket availability update
Ticket update from The Inn of the Good Shepherd: the 5:00 PM seating for Empty Bowls is sold out and "There are ONLY ~50 tickets left for 7PM." There will be no waitlist, no extras, and no door tickets, so visit the event page now to buy while seats last.
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Thrift sale fundraiser
Choice Thrift is donating 50 percent of all sales on 2026-03-28 to The Inn of the Good Shepherd. Visit 141 Christina Street between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM to shop thrifted goods and support the shelter; every purchase during those hours contributes to the fundraiser.
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Food bank donation wish list
The Inn of the Good Shepherd asks shoppers to pick up sale items such as pasta sauce, dish soap, and jam to support local families. Drop donations at The Inn at 115 John St., The Lodge at 950 Confederation St., participating fire hall drives, or most Sarnia Lambton grocery stores; the program distributes 75,000 plus pounds of food monthly to roughly 2,475 people including 940 children.
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CANstruction 2026 Sponsorship Acknowledgement
The Inn of the Good Shepherd thanks Progressive Auto Sales as event sponsor, Lambton Mall as host sponsor, Suncor for youth team sponsorship, and additional supporters including Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Kevin Lush Wealth Management, and CIMS Limited Partnership. The acknowledgement highlights how corporate partners provided space, marketing, and program support for CANstruction 2026 to help the community work toward ending hunger.
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Empty Bowls fundraiser
Bid on one of a kind handmade bowls at the Empty Bowls fundraiser on April 9, 2026, supporting The Inn of the Good Shepherd. The event features Celebrity Bowls with Sarah and Hilary from FOX Mornings and other local media personalities, with proceeds benefitting shelter services.
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CANstruction Sarnia-Lambton Donation Campaign
CANstruction Sarnia-Lambton runs March 14 to March 22 at Lambton Mall, inviting families to spot the hidden mascot tINNy, fill out ballots at the Toys R Us kiosk, and win one of three kids gift baskets. While enjoying large sculptures made from donated food, visitors can vote for favorite builds and donate using red collection cans or the QR codes at each structure to support The Inn of the Good Shepherd.
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2026 CANstruction
The Inn of the Good Shepherds 2026 CANstruction features ten local teams building imaginative sculptures from hundreds of canned and non perishable foods to benefit the food bank. Vote for the People’s Choice Award by donating through the charitys website or by dropping cash in voting bins at each structure; every vote supports people across Sarnia Lambton.
