Aurora educators compete to raise funds for food pantry
Aurora Education Association — West, a membership organization of professional educators, is holding its 11th annual Cereal Drive on behalf of the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry.
The Cereal Drive takes place during February through March 1 and participating West Aurora District 129 schools collectively raise more than $3,000 for the pantry every year.
This year, the association hopes to surpass that amount by making a competition out of the Cereal Drive. The winning school or department with the largest amount will receive a special treat delivered by association president, Michael Slou.
“As an organization, we were looking for ways to connect with the community we serve, and after speaking with the Executive Board, we decided to do a food drive with the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry,” said Stephanie Campise, communications chair for Aurora Education Association — West’s executive board. “Knowing how important it is for our students to start the day with breakfast, we decided to host a cereal drive.”
“Through collaboration with the pantry, they shared that after the holiday season of giving they often don’t receive the same amount of donations so that is why we decided to host our drive in February,” Campise said. “We’ve had such great success with the drive and our staff really enjoys being able to give back, so it has just stuck year after year. We believe it’s been about 11 years that we have been doing the drive.”
As for the pantry staff and how they feel about the food drive, Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry Executive Director Katie Arko comments, “For a group of people who already give so much to our community, especially the youngest among us, this act of kindness and generosity is particularly heartwarming. Each year during their cereal drive, I am amazed at the number of participants, both returning and new, who are willing to give of their personal resources to help others. We are extremely grateful for this annual fundraiser and hope it encourages others to support various charitable causes. This is one of the many things that makes our community so unique and caring.”
Founded in 1981, the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry (colloquially referred to as “Aurora Food Pantry”) operates one of the largest food pantries in northern Illinois, distributing 3.6 million pounds of food each year and serving 1,500 families each week. Its mission is to strengthen the community by connecting those in need with nourishing food and access to area resources. For more information, visit aurorafoodpantry.org.