About

Relieve Hunger, Nourish Lives
Mission: To continue the legacy of Marie Wilkinson, the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry is dedicated to meeting the hunger needs of individuals and families in Aurora and surrounding communities by educating, empowering and enlightening people to be self-sustainable through collaborations and partnerships.

Vision: Engage our community as a leader in the ongoing fight against hunger.

Food Pantry Locations and Hours

West Side Aurora @ 834 N. Highland Ave.
Wednesdays 12 – 2 pm Seniors, Disabled & Veterans
Fridays  1:00 pm – 4 pm General Public

801 Zeigler Ave. Door #33 @ East Aurora High School
Saturdays 8:30 – 11 am General Public

First-time clients must register with Photo ID and a Utility Bill or Medical Card with current address.

Student Food Day @ East Aurora High School
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 3 – 4 pm while school is in session. Learn more >

Leadership
As a Not For Profit organization, the Food Pantry Leadership is comprised of an eclectic group of passionate people from corporate and public entities in Kane County.  Staff and Board of Directors >

Hunger Relief for Aurora, IL and Kane County
More than 62,000 people suffer from hunger and under nutrition in Kane County. The Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry was the pioneer food pantry in Aurora IL, founded to make basic life needs available to those who need them.

Each year, this Aurora Illinois Food Pantry serves the nutritional needs for over 12,000 families and individuals and that number continues to grow each week. Many of our pantry clients are children, the elderly, low income residents and the disabled. Clients also include the “working poor”, those individuals who are employed but do not earn enough to make ends meet.

About Marie Wilkinson of Aurora, IL
Marie Wilkinson was a lifetime social and civil rights activist who fought against poverty, hunger, homelessness, joblessness, and injustice. Marie founded the Aurora, IL Food Pantry in the 1950’s after a near-death experience that caused her to make a personal commitment to helping the less fortunate.

Driven by a new life purpose, Wilkinson began giving out bags of food to those in need from her bungalow on View Street.  She recruited friends and neighbors to help, and soon she had a started a soup kitchen and food pantry. Today, the Food Pantry continues to serve the communities of Aurora IL, Kane County and the surrounding areas.

Read The Biography of Marie Wilkinson >