Tag: Shepherd

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There are at least 11 teams signed up for this year’s Canstruction event in support of the Inn of the Good Shepherd food bank in Sarnia.

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After taking a two-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, what will be Sarnia’s ninth Canstruction is returning this year, with the teams set to begin building structures from cans and boxes of non-perishable food at the Lambton Mall on March 26.

The structures will remain at the mall until April 12 and then the food will help stock shelves at the agency’s food bank.

The eighth Sarnia Canstruction in 2019 had about 16 teams. The event hasn’t been held since because of pandemic-imposed public-health restrictions

Vanni said about three past teams indicated they weren’t taking part this year because they are still taking precautions.

“I think we’ll certainly see them back next year,” he said.

Vanni said they hope this year’s Canstruction can bring in 30,000 pounds of food.

The 2019 event held before the lockdowns began brought in more than 40,000 pounds of food and $20,000 in cash donations.

Mall visitors can vote for their favourite structure, with financial donations for a People’s Choice prize offered as part of the event.

Vanni said members of the public are often shocked to learn that all the cans and boxes used to make the structures is less than the almost 50,000 pounds of food the food bank gives out in a single month.

Demand at the Inn’s food back has returned to “pre-COVID levels,” with about 1,850 people being served each month, Vanni said.

Demand grew during the pandemic as more local households struggled to make ends meet.

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“There were some months we’d get 2,400 (to) 2,600” a month using the food bank, earlier in the pandemic, Vanni said.

At the same time demand increased, traditional sources of food donations slowed during the pandemic shutdowns as churches, schools and others weren’t open or operating normally.

“We were buying as much as $30,000 in food a month,” Vanni said. “Pre-COVID, we would only spend about $3,000 or $4,000.”

Vanni said some of the traditional sources of food collection have begun returning.

“We had another Scouting group come in on the weekend with 2,400 pounds of food, which was awesome,” he said.

This year’s Cyclone Aid spring food drive by St. Christopher Catholic secondary school will run this year as a drive-thru donation event, Vanni said.

The Inn’s Local Shopping Spree Raffle fundraiser is returning this spring, with winners to be announced May 11.

Tickets are $25 for one and $40 for two for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize package sourced from local businesses, along with 25 additional prizes. The total prize board is valued at $12,500.

Tickets are available online at www.localshoppingspree.com, and in person for cash at Dog Eat Dog, the Lambton Mall customer service kiosk and at the Inn.

“It went really well last year,” Vanni said.

Plans are to offer three seasonal raffles this year, he said.

“We’ll raise some money for our programs, some people are going to win some awesome prizes and we’re supporting local,” Vanni said.

There are at least 11 teams signed up for this year’s Canstruction event in support of the Inn of the Good Shepherd food bank in Sarnia.

Article content

There are at least 11 teams signed up for this year’s Canstruction event in support of the Inn of the Good Shepherd food bank in Sarnia.

Article content

After taking a two-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, what will be Sarnia’s ninth Canstruction is returning this year, with the teams set to begin building structures from cans and boxes of non-perishable food March 26 at Lambton Mall.

The structures will remain at the mall until April 12 and then the food will help stock shelves at the agency’s food bank.

A new Kids Canstruction event that had been scheduled for this Friday may not go ahead, said Myles Vanni, executive director of the Inn of the Good Shepherd.

As of Monday, no teams had registered for the youth event.

“That’s not looking hopeful, unfortunately,” Vanni said, but the established main event is ready to go.

“We were at 11 teams and then one of the schools sent a message late Friday and they wanted to enter a team, so we might be up to 12, which is awesome” Vanni said.

“We’re really thrilled to reopen again and have Canstruction going. Eleven is a really good number to get started with again.”

The eighth Sarnia Canstruction in 2019 had about 16 teams. The event hasn’t been held since because of pandemic-imposed public-health restrictions.

Vanni said about three past teams indicated they weren’t taking part this year because they are still taking precautions.

“I think we’ll certainly see them back next year,” he said.

Vanni said they hope this year’s Canstruction can bring in 30,000 pounds of food.

The 2019 event held before the lockdowns began brought in more than 40,000 pounds of food and $20,000 in cash donations.

Article content

Mall visitors can vote for their favourite structure, with financial donations for a People’s Choice prize offered as part of the event.

Vanni said members of the public are often shocked to learn that all the cans and boxes used to make the structures is less than the almost 50,000 pounds of food the food bank gives out in a single month.

Demand at the Inn’s food back has returned to “pre-COVID levels,” with about 1,850 people being served each month, Vanni said.

Demand grew during the pandemic as more local households struggled to make ends meet.

“There were some months we’d get 2,400 (to) 2,600” a month using the food bank, earlier in the pandemic, Vanni said.

At the same time demand increased, traditional sources of food donations slowed during the pandemic shutdowns as churches, schools and others weren’t open or operating normally.

“We were buying as much as $30,000 in food a month,” Vanni said. “Pre-COVID, we would only spend about $3,000 or $4,000.”

Vanni said some of the traditional sources of food collection have begun returning.

“We had another Scouting group come in on the weekend with 2,400 pounds of food, which was awesome,” he said.

This year’s Cyclone Aid spring food drive by St. Christopher Catholic secondary school will run this year as a drive-thru donation event, Vanni said.

The Inn’s Local Shopping Spree Raffle fundraiser is returning this spring, with winners to be announced May 11.

Tickets are $25 for one and $40 for two for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize package sourced from local businesses, along with 25 additional prizes. The total prize board is valued at $12,500.

Tickets are available online at www.localshoppingspree.com, and in person for cash at Dog Eat Dog, the Lambton Mall customer service kiosk and at the Inn.

“It went really well last year,” Vanni said.

Plans are to offer three seasonal raffles this year, he said.

“We’ll raise some money for our programs, some people are going to win some awesome prizes and we’re supporting local,” Vanni said.

pmorden@postmedia.com