Visitors to the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry got a holiday bonus earlier this week for their children, thanks to the generosity of a number of area organizations and churches that helped put together nearly 600 Easter baskets that were given away beginning Monday.
Organizations and churches participating this year included both Our Lady of Mercy Catholic and New England Congregational churches, along with the Zonta Club of Aurora, Beta Alpha Delta Fraternity Inc., the Rotary Club of Montgomery and Quality Chiropractic.
There was also an anonymous donation of 100 Cabbage Patch dolls and stuffed animals that came with candy.
Pantry officials said this was largest number of donators ever for the program.
For the third year, the food pantry offered the Easter basket giveaway, which has seen steady growth since its inception.
Becky Dunnigan-Meyer, community impact manager for the food pantry, said the giveaway “has been going up every year about 100 to 150 baskets.”
“The first year we did it we had about 350 baskets and the next about 450,” she said. “I think a lot more organizations that have gotten involved have gotten involved to a bigger extent knowing the impact that they are having. Any organization that would donate to us is donating even more. Everybody can do a little bit and it makes a lot.”
The giveaway began Monday and was scheduled to last a couple of days, ending on Wednesday.
“This wasn’t something that we advertised or promoted because if we had we’d be overwhelmed with the response,” she said. “The people getting this are very grateful. They’re coming here to get food as it is, so they are already struggling and this is just to help give something to their children that maybe they couldn’t before.”
Pam Schindel of Aurora was volunteering at the food pantry Monday and said she belongs to the Zonta Club, an international organization that promotes the status of women and children.
Schindel said the group made up baskets that were filled with “books, candy, balls, coloring books, crayons and stuffed animals.”
“We put together 50 baskets,” she said. “The intrinsic reward is wonderful. We had a group of seven that worked on these baskets and it’s just wonderful.”
Dunnigan-Meyer worked near the exit door of the food pantry Monday handing out baskets, along with Alethea Hicks of Wheaton who said she works at Aurora Christian High School.
A chemistry teacher, Hicks said she brought six students with her who were all working at the food pantry during the school’s annual Week of Service.
“This is our mission week where we serve in the community and we have kids here working,” she said. “The kids get to see all the things the community does to help and see that people are not alone and the kids get to be part of being with their community rather than not knowing what’s going on. This isn’t a day off school – it’s our assigned task for the day. The kids need a break from chemistry every now and then so they can let their minds recharge.”
Visitors to the pantry expressed both surprise and gratitude for the unexpected gifts.
Stacey Palmer of Naperville admitted she “didn’t expect there would be a bonus” and noted that the basket “was going to make Easter a little bit better for my son.”
“He’s going to be happy to get this and it’s a surprise for me,” she said. “He’s 2 years old. This is the first time I’ve seen this, and I hope they can continue to have something like this as it’s a great help for families.”
Jackelyn Navarro of Aurora said she has two children, ages 5 and 6, and that her children “are going to be excited to see this.”
“I have a boy and a girl and this is going to make them so happy,” Navarro said. “I’m grateful.”
Micaela Mevrano of Aurora said she has three children of her own and a goddaughter who would be getting a basket.
“This is for my goddaughter who will be a year-old next month,” she said. “I didn’t know this was coming. I’m happy to get this and I know she’ll enjoy it.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
