The recent Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry Radiothon fund-raiser exceeded its goals, raising $175,000, officials said.
The event on June 13 at Ballydoyle Aurora’s Loft 28 raised more than the $150,000 goal pantry officials had set.
The event featured dinner, live music, a live broadcast from 95.9 The River radio station, a silent auction, games and a raffle.
Event sponsors further bolstered fundraising efforts by matching every dollar donated to the event.
Proceeds will go toward stocking the pantry through the summer months, a time when area families cannot rely on school meal programs to augment their grocery budgets, pantry officials said.
Longtime contributors to the pantry were recognized at the event. Radiothon founder and leader Dan Dolan of Dolan and Murphy Inc. Real Estate presented Gerald Auto Group with the Corporate Pantry Partner Award while former executive director of the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry Marilyn Weisner presented the Pantry Partner Award to longtime board member Hilary Brennan.
One individual reminded the audience why they were gathered that night. Rafael, a pantry neighbor, delivered a speech on the impact the pantry has had on his and his family’s lives.
“My wife sometimes talks to me from the kitchen telling me how much we saved in this dinner today,” said Rafael. “She starts adding the prices of the meat, the fresh vegetables and other food and she also reminds me of some of the food we receive that we cannot afford. Many times, volunteers’ faces come to my mind when we are eating.”
Rafael added that while the food has its monetary value, “more importantly, it has an emotional value: getting the feeling of security.”
“I am continually amazed at our community’s ability to come together to support the Aurora Food Pantry,” said Katie Arko, Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry executive director, in a press release about the fundraiser. “We talk about serving 1,300 families a week, which is true, but that’s just a number. Behind these statistics is a mom, dad, children, grandparents or elderly neighbor that relies on food from the pantry to survive.
“We are extremely grateful for our volunteers and donors who make it possible for us to continue our work,” Arko said.
The Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry operates one of the largest food pantries in northern Illinois, distributing 3.6 million pounds of food each year and serving 1,300 families each week. For more information on the pantry, go to aurorafoodpantry.org.
