80% of all food shared with pantry guests comes from Marie’s Food Rescue Program, powered by volunteers, with financial support from community members.
FOOD RESCUED, FOOD SHARED – 47.6% Growth
- Volunteers have grown Marie’s Food Rescue program to include 40 trips to local grocers each week.
- Guests may visit once a week to fill a cart with fresh produce, dairy, deli, frozen meats, baked goods, cereals, and canned goods. Some personal care and household cleaning items are available as well.
USDA calculates 1.2 pounds is an average meal (determined by age and appetite of individuals).
- Pantry volunteers shared ~ 642 tons of food with guests. 47.6% increase from 2018
- 155 tons of fresh produce. 12% increase from 2018
OVER 20,313 GUESTS SERVED
GUESTS SHARE WITH THEIR HOUSEHOLDS
- Volunteers provided a grocery cart full (~70 lbs) of nourishing food to over 20,313 guests in 2019.
- Guests freely choose what they will use, just like they would in a grocery store.
- Pantry guests brought groceries home to over 57,187 household members, providing nutrition to:
- 23,773 children under 18 yrs of age
- 28,560 persons aged 19-65
- 4,854 seniors over age 65
COMMUNITY GARDEN – 72.6% Growth
- Over 3,453 lbs of vegetables were harvested from Marie’s Community Garden.
- Local farmers and gardeners donated fresh produce. 72.6% increase from 2018
FOOD 4 STUDENTS
Volunteers and Aurora’s educational community celebrated the 2nd year of ‘Food 4 Students’ program in Aurora’s schools in 2019.
- Served groceries to 1,785 East High students. 98% increase from 2018
- Students brought groceries to 7,215 household members, of whom 2,533 are younger siblings.
SHARING FOOD 3+ DAYS A WEEK
- Pantry volunteers shared food with guests seeking support for their households on 174 days in 2019.
- Marie’s West Pantry
- Wednesdays 12 – 2 pm
- Fridays 1:00 – 4:00 pm
- Marie’s East Pantry
- Sat. 9 – 11 am
- Two Thursdays per month for East High Students.
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