Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry to hold annual Veterans Food Pantry Nov. 9

On Wednesday, Nov. 9, the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry will hold its annual Veterans Pantry.

All veterans and their families are invited to the Aurora Food Pantry at 1110 Jericho Road from 10 a.m. to noon to pick up groceries including meat, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, and nonperishable items to continue the celebration at home with their own meal.

A brief ceremony will be held with reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem will be sung.

Expected in attendance at the Veterans Pantry will be Aurora Alderman Bill Donnell, state Representatives Barbara Hernandez and Stephanie Kifowit, Jim Dolan from the Illinois Joining Forces, Commandant Joe West and Aurora Deputy Mayor Guillermo Trujillo along with other guest speakers.

According to Feeding America, as many as 24% of active-duty service members and their families experience food insecurity in the United States.

More than 75,000 military veterans in the U.S. are also food insecure. The Aurora Food Pantry is honored to recognize our veterans in this small way. The community is invited to attend the ceremony honoring our nation's heroes at 10 a.m.

Founded in 1981, Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry operates one of the largest food pantries in northern Illinois. The mission of Aurora Food Pantry is to help end local hunger by ensuring that everyone has access to enough nourishing food, thereby helping the overall community stay healthy and productive. For more information, visit www.aurorafoodpantry.org.