The Inn of the Good Shepherd is in the process of adding a stop to its mobile garden market in Sombra.
During a recent St. Clair Township council meeting, the idea was brought forward to host the market in the library parking lot on St. Clair Parkway.
It is a way for the Inn to get healthy foods for low income individuals, families and households.
Inn of the Good Shepherd Executive Director Myles Vanni said the market goes to nine rural communities and six areas in Sarnia.
"The farthest south we reach is Corunna and we recognize there is a need at the south end of the county, Sombra area and even opportunities for folks in Walpole Island to come to Sombra to access the market," he said.
There are no grocery stores in the community and the closest ones are in either Wallaceburg or Corunna.
Area residents used the Bluewater Ferry to go over to Marine City, Michigan for groceries and other items before the raised road leading to the dock was damaged by ice in 2018 and was never fixed.
The ferry was then sold in 2020.
Vanni said without these resources it can be difficult for those who don't have reliable transportation.
"We've had a number of inquiries from the Sombra area for being able to access the food and they don't have the food and they don't have the transportation to get to Corunna or Sarnia, so this is a better chance to better serve those communities," he said.
The goal is to have this location during the summer months while the mobile garden market is operational.
He explained the Inn of the Good Shepherd has been working with Lambton County housing which helped show the need for people in the community.
"(Lambton County Housing) were identifying the clients and the challenges their facing, so we're really happy to be working with the county to sees this program up there," Vanni said.
He added that with the other markets the Inn is servicing around 1200 people per week, which is five to six thousand pounds of fruits and vegetables.
If approved, the Inn is looking to host the market on Thursdays.
Council passed a motion to send a request to the Fire Chief because the St. Clair Township fire department uses a shed that is near where the market is proposed to be.
