Local businesses are again teaming up to support families who sometimes have to decide between buying food or toiletries at the grocery store.
Blackburn Media's 99.9 FM The FOX has partnered with The Inn of the Good Shepherd and Tepperman’s for the Family to Family Donation Drive next week.
Inn Executive Director Myles Vanni said the event focuses on non-traditional items such as cleaning products, toilet paper, laundry soap, and diapers.
"Those are often the most expensive things that a family is challenged to purchase," he said. "These kinds of items are often more in need because we don't have a great supply on hand."
Vanni said one thing the Inn will do to try and support multiple families, is to divide a large jug of laundry detergent into smaller containers.
"So that big jug of laundry soap is going to help four or five families," he said.
Other non-traditional items needed include paper towels, facial tissues, toiletry items, feminine hygiene products, and pet food.
Vanni said last year, about 1,300 pounds of items were collected through the Family to Family Donation Drive.
The Fox will be broadcasting from Tepperman's Sarnia location on London Road beginning at 6 a.m. on December 6. However, donations can be dropped off at Tepperman's through December 8.
Alternatively, online donations can be submitted through the Inn's website. The drop-down menu has a designation option for the donation drive called "Tepperman's Family to Family with 99.9 The Fox."
Meanwhile, the Inn has several other holiday initiatives currently underway, including the Adopt-A-Family program.
Vanni said about 420 families have been matched so far and about 60 still need to be adopted, with more expected over the coming weeks.
"With the Adopt-A-Family program, we're seeing, at this point, a higher number than we did last year," Vanni said. "Last year, in total, we sponsored about 540 families."
He said more sponsors are needed.
"We'll try to match everybody that we can. There is a risk that some may not if we don't have sponsors," he said. "We have some sponsors that do the shopping and bring the gifts in for the family, and we have other sponsors that will donate funds and we have a team of volunteers that will go shopping."
The 2025 Holiday Cash Calendars are also being sold to raise money for programs and services. The "stocking stuffers" can be purchased online or at several different local stores.
The cash calendar includes a prize board totaling $10,300, with 32 chances to win. The draw will run throughout January 2025.
Another fundraiser the Inn heavily relies on is the Christmas mailers. However, the campaign will include more of a social media push this year due to the ongoing Canada Post strike. Vanni said their mail-outs were supposed to go out this week.
"That puts us in a bit of a precarious spot because our Christmas mailers are our single largest fundraiser for us," he said. "Even though the delivery may be delayed, certainly the need is not and if people are able to contribute online versus waiting for the mailer to come in and mail in the cheque, that would be just wonderful."
Vanni said other programs are also held during the holidays for families in need, including a nice dinner and a kids' Christmas party.
Further details about fundraising events and programs can be found on the Inn's website.