Kane County Health Department pitches in at Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry

Posted June 08, 2021 11:00 pm

Submitted by Al Benson

Kane County Health Department staffers pitched in at Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry's mobile, pop-up kids' pantry Saturday, June 5.

Health department employees Heliana Hernandez and Olga Deltoro packed gift bags with literature in English and Spanish, hand sanitizer and other items for food pantry families.

Literature explained baby stages from 0 to 36 months, "Igrow: Early Start. Bright Future" program, lead poisoning dangers, and free COVID-19 vaccinations.

Rebecca Dunnigan, Interfaith outreach coordinator, said the Saturday mobile pantry served 127 families, including 321 children.

The next mobile pantry will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 19. The location will be announced. Area families in need are invited.

Admission is free. Identification is not required. Food for 200 families will be available on a first-come basis. Items to be distributed include granola bars, fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, eggs, ground beef, cereal, applesauce, apple juice and box dinners.

Additionally, toilet paper, laundry detergent, hygiene items and books from Aurora Public Library will be included. Fox Valley United Way will provide information on its programs.

Pantry volunteers distribute food and other items during the drive-through giveaways. Patrons do not need to leave their vehicles to claim food. Volunteers observing pandemic safety procedures will load $140 bags of groceries into patrons' vehicles.

The event is Interfaith's 13th biweekly mobile pantry since January. Prior drive-thrus were held in Aurora, Oswego, Montgomery, Plano and Crest Hill.

Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry partners with Fox Valley Park District, Calvary Church of Naperville and Blessings in a Backpack of Chicago to provide free groceries, books and household items to local families at the pop-ups.

Assisting Dunnigan is Rev. Kyle Dern, Calvary outreach pastor. He drives a church truck that transports food to distribution sites. About 10 volunteers, including Calvary congregants and food pantry personnel, assist at the pantries.

Call (630) 692-3061 or visit aurorafoodpantry.org for more information.

Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry volunteers load food into patrons' vehicles during a drive-through distribution at Palace Street Park in Aurora on June 5. Courtesy of Al Benson

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