The Good Samaritan Inn

The Good Samaritan Inn We serve a hot lunch 7 days to week to all who come to our door - if you're hungry, we're here. Nobody may enter.

Daily Free Noon Meal Program
11:30am-1:00pm
920 N Union St, Decatur, IL

Mercy Gardens Program
Urban Gardening on 5 acres in Decatur

Mercy Market, featuring locally grown/ made goods
June-October
Preston Jackson Park, Downtown Decatur SERVICE: 11:30AM-1pm
• Hot meals 7 days a week inside the dining room
• You may eat 1 hot lunch inside OR take Sack lunches to-go via our walk-up window - multiple

sack lunches are permitted for families
• 1:00 - Doors Closed. Please continue to keep us in your prayers – without them, none of this would be possible. Our God is an awesome God, and His power and grace are evident every day at the Good Samaritan Inn!

The Good Sam team was thrilled to hear the announcement of the winners of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation's A...
06/17/2026

The Good Sam team was thrilled to hear the announcement of the winners of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation's Annual Do Something Great Awards. Our community is filled with remarkable volunteers and philanthropists, and we were especially proud to see two of our own favorite do-gooders, Bruce and Nancy Frey, receive the 2026 Robert and Bev Ketenbrink Community Commitment Award. This award recognizes individuals, couples, or families whose exceptional generosity, civic engagement, and charitable leadership inspire others to make a difference through philanthropy and service, and Bruce and Nancy exemplify these qualities in every way.

Since 2013, Bruce and Nancy have been a steady and valued presence at Good Sam, often volunteering several times each month. We know it's going to be a great day whenever they walk through our doors. Their kindness, sense of humor, and willingness to serve make them a joy to work alongside. They are always quick to welcome new volunteers, offer guidance, and lead by example.

Their commitment to serving others extends far beyond Good Sam. Bruce and Nancy have also dedicated their time to New Life Pregnancy Center, Vintage Church, Meals on Wheels, and the Dove Coats for Kids Drive.

We are grateful for the countless ways they strengthen our community through their service. Good Sam is fortunate to count Bruce and Nancy among our most cherished volunteers, and we are incredibly proud to see them recognized with this well-deserved honor.

Help us celebrate Kent's 10-year anniversary with Good Samaritan Inn! 🎉Kent is our longest-tenured current employee, hav...
06/15/2026

Help us celebrate Kent's 10-year anniversary with Good Samaritan Inn! 🎉

Kent is our longest-tenured current employee, having served under four different Executive Directors during his decade with Good Sam. At one point, he even had the opportunity to work alongside his father, Kenny, making his connection to our organization even more special.

Throughout his time here, Kent's passion has always been rooted in Mercy Gardens. His methodical approach and attention to detail have helped the gardens thrive year after year. Whether it's harvesting, planting, weeding, mowing, or maintaining the grounds, Kent can be found working through the heat of summer and the challenges of every season.

His talents extend far beyond the gardens. Over the years, Kent has driven forklifts and tractors, constructed greenhouses and container shelters, and even helped build a refrigerated storage container for Good Sam. During the winter months, he turns his focus to maintenance projects, helping keep our facilities running smoothly and looking their best. On snowy days, Kent is often one of the first to arrive, clearing sidewalks and parking lots to ensure the safety of our patrons and volunteers.

Kent's steady dedication, versatility, and commitment have played a vital role in the growth of Mercy Gardens and Good Samaritan Inn as a whole. The abundance we harvest each year is a reflection of the care and effort he puts into his work every day.

Please join us in thanking Kent for 10 years of service, hard work, and dedication. We are incredibly grateful for all he has contributed and look forward to seeing what the next 10 years will bring! 💚🌱

Check out what’s happening over at Mercy Market this Saturday, June 13th! Lots of local bakers and makers have breads, m...
06/13/2026

Check out what’s happening over at Mercy Market this Saturday, June 13th!

Lots of local bakers and makers have breads, meats, sweets, and more for sale. LINK is accepted- stop at the LINK booth for info on how to use it at any of the in town markets, as well as in Champaign and Urbana markets.

Going on today until 12!

📌337 N Water St, Decatur IL

🌱 Mercy Market Returns June 13! 🌱Join us from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Preston Jackson Park for another morning of fresh f...
06/13/2026

🌱 Mercy Market Returns June 13! 🌱

Join us from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Preston Jackson Park for another morning of fresh food, local shopping, live music, and community connection.

This week's vendors include:
🥬 Mercy Gardens Produce
🥩 ES MEATS Inc.
🍪 Kathy's Kitchen & Krafts
🍞 Mama Bear Bakery
🍿 Luka Popcorn Co.
☕ RockWell Coffee Company, featuring their Do Good Donuts
🎨 Creativity for a Mission

We're also excited to welcome:
🌿 Master Gardeners, who will be available to answer your gardening and plant questions

❤️ Meridian Health, providing community health resources and information. Bring your Meridian Health insurance card and get a $15 voucher for produce; stop and talk to them and get a $5 voucher.

🎶 Live music will be provided by Jim Hollis Music

And while you're out enjoying local markets, don't forget that the Decatur Central Park Farmers' Market is just two blocks away!

Start your Saturday with fresh local food, great vendors, live music, and neighbors coming together to support one another. We can't wait to see you there! 🌞🍅🎵

📍 337 N. Water St., Decatur, IL
⏰ 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📅 Saturday, June 13

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR JUNEA huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to help prepare and serve meals this month! We ...
06/12/2026

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR JUNE

A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to help prepare and serve meals this month! We are still in need of volunteers, especially for our serving shifts throughout the remainder of June.

If you have just two hours to spare from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors. Volunteers help serve lunch from a cafeteria-style line and offer a warm smile and friendly interaction to those we serve.

No experience is necessary. Simply follow the chef's instructions, serve a meal, and help create a welcoming environment for our guests.

Interested in helping this Sunday? Send us a message on Facebook to sign up.

For future volunteer opportunities, email [email protected] or call 217-429-1455, and Outreach Director Denise will get back to you on Monday.

Thank you for sharing your time and helping strengthen our community. ❤️

Today, we take a moment to remember Ms. JoAnne.For the past few years, JoAnne volunteered alongside her daughter, Katy. ...
06/10/2026

Today, we take a moment to remember Ms. JoAnne.

For the past few years, JoAnne volunteered alongside her daughter, Katy. Seeing the two of them walk through our doors together always brought a smile to our faces and reminded us of the special bonds that strengthen our community.

We send our thoughts and prayers to Katy and her family.
May Ms. JoAnne Rest in Peace.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ALL THROUGHOUT JUNE- SECOND PLEA June is here, and while summer calendars are filling up with vacation...
06/09/2026

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ALL THROUGHOUT JUNE- SECOND PLEA

June is here, and while summer calendars are filling up with vacations, family gatherings, and fun in the sun, our need for volunteers is greater than ever. Today alone, nearly 300 people counted on Good Samaritan Inn for a meal. As summer schedules shift, we need volunteers to help ensure we can continue showing up for our community every day.

We still have many volunteer shifts that need to be filled this month, and we could use lots of extra hands in the kitchen to help keep meals going out to our community.

Every single day of the year, we rely on volunteers to help fill two important shifts:

🍽️ 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 line.

The dates we need help this month are listed in the photo, and many shifts remain unfilled.

No matter the season, Good Samaritan Inn continues to show up every day with a nutritious meal and a welcoming place for those who need it. If you've been looking for a meaningful way to give back this summer, now is the perfect time to join our volunteer team.

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

Thank you for helping us serve our community, one meal at a time.

Today is opening day for Mercy Market!Come grab some local eats and treats to start your Saturday off right. Good Sam’s ...
06/06/2026

Today is opening day for Mercy Market!
Come grab some local eats and treats to start your Saturday off right. Good Sam’s Mercy Gardens crew will be selling locally grown radishes, garlic scapes, kale, herbs, and native plant starts.
There will be a bounce house for the kids and live music starting around 10am.
The fun starts today, Saturday June 6th at 8am, down at Preston Jackson Park- see you there!

🌱 Mercy Market's Opening Day is almost here! 🌱The countdown is on, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back this Satur...
06/02/2026

🌱 Mercy Market's Opening Day is almost here! 🌱

The countdown is on, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back this Saturday June 6th for the first market of the 2026 season!

Join us as we kick off another summer of supporting local growers, makers, and producers while bringing fresh food and community together. Whether you're stocking up on farm-fresh vegetables, shopping for locally raised meats, enjoying live music, or simply catching up with friends and neighbors, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

We'll have a bounce house for the kids, plenty of fresh locally grown produce, meats, baked goods, vendors, music, and so much more to help us celebrate the start of market season.

Bring the family down and help us make Opening Day one to remember. We can't wait to see you at Mercy Market and start another great season together! 🌽🥕🎶☀️

Thank you to Dollar General for volunteering in the gardens this month! 🌱We are incredibly grateful for the support of n...
05/29/2026

Thank you to Dollar General for volunteering in the gardens this month! 🌱

We are incredibly grateful for the support of new volunteers who have helped us keep things growing as our gardens continue to expand. Every helping hand plays a part in strengthening access to fresh, local food in our community.

If you enjoy getting your hands dirty and want to help support local food systems, we would love to have you join us! Email Denise at [email protected] or call 217-429-1455 to sign up for a volunteer shift.

Address

920 N Union Street
Decatur, IL
62522

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 3pm
Tuesday 7am - 3pm
Wednesday 7am - 3pm
Thursday 7am - 3pm
Friday 7am - 3pm
Saturday 7am - 3pm
Sunday 7am - 3pm

Telephone

(217) 429-1455

Website

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