Aurora mobile pantry returns to neighborhoods; winter-spring distributions announced

Posted January 10, 2023 10:00 pm

Submitted by Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry

Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry's mobile pantry is back on the road.

After a holiday break, the Aurora-based pantry's traveling pantry opened winter-spring visits to Aurora and Naperville neighborhoods on Saturday, Jan. 7.

The mobile pantry visited Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel Church Aurora.

With about 30 volunteers from the pantry and the church combined, 96 families with 203 children were served during a morning drive-through at the church parking lot.

Volunteers included Interfaith's Kimberly Johnson of Aurora who distributed bouquets of flowers to patrons picking up food items and household goods.

Rebecca Dunnigan, Interfaith community impact manager and drive-thru coordinator, said the pantry ran out of product about 11:45 a.m.

She announced schedules for kids' pop-up distributions and women-only distributions:

Volunteers load a patron's vehicle Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry's drive-through pantry Saturday, Jan. 7, at Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel Church in Aurora. Courtesy of Al Benson

The kids' pop-up schedule is:

• Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m. to noon, kids' pop-up drive-thru event at McCarty Elementary School, 3000 Village Green Drive, Aurora, with food and school supplies giveaway and free clothing items from Maddie's Mitten March.

• Saturday, March 4, 10 a.m. to noon, kids' pop-up drive thru event at Calvary Church of Naperville, 9S200 Route 59, Naperville.

• Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m. to noon, kids' pop-up drive thru event at New Covenant Full Gospel Church, 1029 Kane St., Aurora.

The women's mobile pantry schedule is:

• Thursday, Jan. 12, from 2 to 3 p.m., a walk-through at Calvary Church of Naperville, 9S200 Route 59, Naperville (enter doors 23 and 24 on west side of building)

• Thursday, Feb. 9, from 2 to 3 p.m., a walk-through at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 27 S. Edgelawn Drive, Aurora

Dunnigan said giveaways include food and household items for 200 families available on a first-come basis.

Items provided include frozen meat and other foods, household goods, formula, baby food, diapers, wipes and feminine hygiene products.

The public is invited. Parking is free. Identification is not required.

Mobile pantry partners with Interfaith are Fox Valley Park District, Calvary Church of Naperville and Blessings in a Backpack of Chicago.

Women-only Women's Empowerment Mobile Pantries are planned for the third Thursdays this year.

Interfaith added the women's-only pantry to its popular traveling pantries, launched in January 2021, with a grant from Aurora Women's Empowerment Foundation.

AWE, an Aurora -based nonprofit, was formed in 2018 after the Aurora YWCA closed after nearly 125 years.

AWE chair Amy Bauduin said, "Our mission is to elevate and empower Aurora-area women and future women by making grants to tax-exempt nonprofits engaged in meaningful, measurable work that helps women over the hurdles of inequity and exclusion, propelling them forward with life-changing programs and services." With pantry staffers and community volunteers, a truck and driver loaned by Calvary Church of Naperville visits area locations to distribute Interfaith food, household items and women's hygiene products. Interfaith traveling pantries visit parking lots at churches, schools, libraries and senior and low-income residences.

For more information, call (630) 692-3061, email rdunnigan@aurorafoodpantry.org or visit www.aurorafoodpantry.org.

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.