With 1,850 people to feed each month, Sarnia's Inn of the Good Shepherd is hopeful the community feels generous with its donations this weekend.
Hundreds of volunteers with ties to St. Patrick's Catholic High School will canvass every home in Sarnia, Pt. Edward and Bright's Grove Saturday morning for the 17th annual Cyclone Aid food drive.
Executive Director Myles Vanni says if students reach their goal of collecting 40,000 lbs in non-perishable donations, they will be set up with food for a month.
He says they always need certain items.
"Cereal, children's lunch items, canned fruit, canned meat, side dishes," says Vanni. "Anything like that, that you prepare a meal at home with, that's what we provide the folks here."
Personal hygiene products, like shampoo, soap, toilet paper and diapers are also welcomed.
Vanni says it's a great event for students and often inspires them to give back in other ways as well.
He says former students have been known to drop by and help at their soup kitchen or other events.
"It really helps to set these young people on that life-long path of caring and helping in your community and that's a huge hidden benefit that this is going to provide," says Vanni.
Residents are encouraged to place their non-perishable food donations outside the door, to expedite collection between 8:30am and 1pm.
Donations can also be dropped off at the school during that time.
About 800 of the 1,850 people that access the Inn's food bank each month are children.
