Our Mission & What We Do
Our Mission
As one of the largest food pantries in Northern Illinois, the Aurora Food Pantry distributed nearly 4 million pounds of food every year. The mission of the Aurora Food Pantry is to strengthen the community by connecting those in need with nourishing food and access to area resources.
Our Programs
The Aurora Food Pantry is committed to providing nutritious food relief to the community in a humanitarian and compassionate manner. When surveyed, 99% of clients reported that they were satisfied with the food they received and 93% reported that the food helped their families improve their overall health.
Through client choice, our neighbors can select the food that best meet their needs. The number of items a client receives is determined by the size of their family and the stock available. By offering choice, less food goes to waste, clients can better plan meals for their family’s needs, and we are able to serve our community with dignity and compassion.
Food Distribution Programs
Three days a week, we offer a choice-market/marketplace shopping, serving between 300-430 families each day. Our choice market provides families with access to fresh foods and shelf-stable items. The pantry makes every effort to provide fresh produce, meat, dairy items, and other lean proteins.
Through our partnership with the University of Illinois Extension program, we provide provide resources and classes on healthy eating aimed at reducing chronic, diet-driven diseases.
On-site distribution is simply not possible for some neighbors, and the pantry recognizes that obstacle. This program is designed to serve seniors, individuals with mobility issues or those whose schedules conflict with on-site food distribution times. Included in the program are curbside pickup and home delivery. Each month, we distribute over 600 boxes of food through curbside pickup or delivery.
Jefferson Middle School Micro Pantry
Food Rescue Program
Food recovery is a crucial component in our pantry’s ability to provide a choice market. In addition to purchasing food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the pantry partners with 24 local food distributors and farmers to procure over 50,000 pounds of food each month. The food is donated and provides our shoppers with access to fresh foods such as meat, dairy, baked goods and produce.
Project Support
We recognize the socioeconomic disparities in our community that lead to chronic food insecurity. We created the Project Support Program to work in partnership with a network of community-based organizations that can address the broader struggles facing our clients. Through this program, we provide 60+ referrals each week to clients for services related to immigration, healthcare, finances, employment, education, job training, and more. By scheduling wrap-around services at the pantry during distribution; providing referrals to local agencies; and meeting one-on-one with neighbors, this program works to address the root causes of food insecurity, and strives to improve the lives of individuals.
Emergency Clothing Program
The Closet was created to help our neighbors in Aurora and the surrounding communities. We help families facing emergencies and families that are also facing a short-term financial struggle. We take gently used clothing that members of our community are done with and pass them onto members of our community that are in need.
Our History
Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry was founded in 1981. An economic downturn had led to a growing number of people seeking food assistance, often through local churches. Unable to accommodate the growing need, these churches worked with local leaders to help establish a larger community pantry to assist those struggling to make ends meet.
The collaboration of people of all faiths – and a desire to serve those in the city of Aurora and beyond – led to the forming of Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry.
For decades, the pantry operated from offices shared with Hesed House, a local homeless shelter.
The need for basic services in Aurora growing substantially during the 2008 recession, it became evident that a larger space – both for food storage and grocery distribution – was needed.
With the support of the community, government agencies, and local foundations, Aurora Food Pantry moved to its present location in November 2013. The 18,000 sq. ft. space (six times larger than the previous site) radically improved the distribution process, with benefits including:
- Client-choice market with refrigerator cases and permanent shelving
- A comfortable, indoor client waiting room with a children’s play area
- Large storage warehouse with docks for safely unloading deliveries
- Increased refrigerator and freezer space to store fresh foods
Today, the Aurora Food Pantry is one of the largest food pantries in northern Illinois, distributing 3.6 million pounds of food each year. With a staff of ten, a crew of over 500 volunteers, and countless community partners, Aurora Food Pantry is dedicated to ending hunger in the community by providing nutritious food in a humanitarian and compassionate manner.