Aurora pop-up food pantry Monday for 1,000 families

Aurora is hosting a pop-up food pantry Monday to distribute meals to 1,000 families. The drive-through pantry opens at 9 a.m. at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive.

The city is collaborating with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry on the eighth, communitywide pantry since the pandemic hit.

Provided through the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, the free food distribution will provide boxes of fresh meat, dairy and produce.

Lines form early for the first-come, first-served event. No identification is necessary.

"Food insecurity has been a major concern throughout the pandemic, and we've collaborated with our partners to provide meals to more than 11,000 families this past year," Mayor Richard Irvin said in a statement. "With the conclusion of utility shut-off moratoriums happening at the end of the month, families will face a resumed financial burden. Our hope is the pop-up pantries can help ease that burden by putting fresh food on the table for free."

The city plans to continue monthly pop-up pantries through the summer.