The Good Samaritan Inn

AUGUST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

August is here, and with it comes the return of school routines, busy schedules, and the end of summer vacations. As everyone's calendars begin to fill up again, we're looking for volunteers to help us keep our kitchen running smoothly.

Every day of the year, we rely on volunteers to help prepare and serve meals for our neighbors, and right now we have several openings.

🍽️ 9am-11am
Help prepare the daily meal by chopping ingredients, opening cans, making sandwiches, and packing sack lunches.

🥪 11am-1pm
Help serve lunch to patrons through our cafeteria-style serving line.

The dates we need help this month are listed in the photo, and many of the dates marked "urgent" currently have no volunteers scheduled. 2-4 people are needed to fill the 9am-11am shift, while 5-6 people are needed from 11am-1pm.

As the community settles back into its routine, Good Sam remains a constant, serving a free, hot meal every single day of the year. If you have a few hours to spare, we'd love to welcome you to our volunteer team. Together, we can make sure no one goes without a meal. 💚

Call 217-429-1455 or email [email protected] to sign up!

Congratulations to Clair, one of our seasonal employees at Mercy Gardens, on earning the Roberta K. Gorden agriculture scholarship!

One of the greatest joys of working with student employees is watching them learn, grow, and pursue their passions. We've enjoyed working with Clair and watching her gain some hands on experience on our urban farm and at Mercy Market this summer.

Congratulations on taking the next step toward a degree in agriculture! We can't wait to see where this journey leads and the impact you'll make along the way. 🌱💚

Because of the investment of passionate donors and the power of endowment, we're able to continue to support multiple scholarship opportunities within our service area.

It's here the stories of people passionate about their giving are met with the stories of students whose pursuit for knowledge has been impacted by this generosity.

It's additionally special when we are able to foster connections and share these stories in person.

Today, we had the chance to bring together Roberta K. Gorden and this year's recipient of her scholarship, Clairice Kane, for a celebration lunch before Clairice heads off in a few short weeks to pursue her Ag Business degree. They were joined by HICF Director of Scholarships & Grants, Andrea Gerhard, and Director of Donor Services, Kaitlyn Farrar. While enjoying a delicious lunch, they were able to connect, learn more about each other, share their stories, and be encouraged.

Different generations, shared passion for agriculture.

Rooted in a legacy of family farming and investing in others, the Roberta K. Gorden Scholarship fund will continue to support students pursuing agriculture or related field for years to come.

We are excited to host another Mercy Market this Saturday! Our Mercy Gardens team is working hard as we speak to harvest produce for tomorrow's market.

LINK benefits can be used to purchase most food items, and each dollar spent with LINK comes with a matching voucher that can be used towards the purchase of fresh produce.

There will be live music and children's activities on site as well- come join us for a great little Saturday!

📅Saturday, July 18th
🕗 8am-12pm
🚩Preston Jackson Park, 337 N Water St, Decatur IL

☀️ The weekend is on its way, and that means it's almost time for Mercy Market!

Kick off this Saturday July 18th with fresh produce, delicious baked goods, hot coffee, handcrafted goods, local artwork, and so much more. Every purchase helps support local farmers, makers, artists, and small businesses while strengthening our community.

This week's vendors include:

🍅 Mercy Gardens Produce
🍑 Sager Farms peaches
☕ RockWell Coffee Company featuring Do Good Donuts
🌿 Natural Products by Karin 2
🎨 Kathy's Kitchen & Krafts
🏥 HSHS St. Mary's Hospital Decatur
🖼️ Lisa's Art
🚜 The Little Farm Co.
🏷️ Scrafts
⚒️ Lindsey the Ladysmith
🍬 Bre's Freeze Dried Candies
🐾 New Hope Animal Outreach with plants for sale
📚 Ember & Ink mobile Bookstore

🎶 Enjoy live music from Arlin Peebles as you browse the market, and bring the kids along for plenty of fun! The Children's Museum of Illinois will be on-site with their Big Blue Blocks, musical instruments, and dinosaur bone activities that are sure to keep young imaginations busy.

Don't forget: We proudly accept LINK benefits, and matching produce vouchers are available to help make fresh, local food more accessible to all. These benefits are also accepted at many food vendors at Decatur Central Park Farmers' Market which also takes place on Saturday and is just two blocks away.

📍 Mercy Market
📅 Saturday, July 18
⏰ 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Grab your family, invite a friend, and spend your Saturday morning shopping local, enjoying great music, and making memories at Mercy Market. We can't wait to see you there! 💚

🎨💚 We are incredibly grateful to Drew (and Ash!) from Low Key Studios, for transforming our dining room with a beautiful new mural that captures the heart of Good Samaritan Inn.

Centered around our motto, "Growing Better Together," this artwork is more than paint on a wall. It reflects our commitment to becoming a little better each day, uplifting every person who walks through our doors, and providing nourishment for both body and soul.

A heartfelt thank you to the Amherst Hardy Foundation for making this project possible. Their investment in public art helps create welcoming spaces where our community can gather, connect, and feel at home.

We'd love for you to stop by and see the mural for yourself. While you're here, you're always welcome to stay for a meal and experience what Good Sam is all about.

🍽 Free lunch served daily
🕦 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
📍 920 N. Union St., Decatur, IL

Thank you to everyone who helps make Good Sam a place where hope, hospitality, and community continue to grow together. 💚

Keep an eye out for another mural coming soon!