Aurora to offer pop-up food pantry Thursday

To help meet the growing food needs in the community amid the COVID-19 crisis, the city of Aurora is collaborating with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the Quad County Urban League, the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry and Ward 3 Alderman Ted Mesiacos to provide free groceries for families.

"Our food pantries have seen the demand for food double and triple over the past two months," said Mayor Richard C. Irvin, who recently hosted a conversation with the leaders of some of Aurora's food pantries. "With traffic lines literally stretching for blocks during food distribution days, it is clear we need to continue to find additional opportunities to get fresh groceries into the hands and homes of our families."

One such opportunity will be at the city's Pop-Up Food Pantry from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Philips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive. Stocked to provide food for up to 800 families, the site will allow cars to drive-through the contactless distribution line where volunteers will place a packed box in back seat or trunk. Enter the park from Smith Boulevard near the intersection of Fifth Avenue, next to East Aurora High School.

All food is free and provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Traffic will be directed by the Aurora Police Department and the Aurora Emergency Management Agency, with assistance from the Citizens Police Academy of Aurora Alumni.