Growth in Pantry Services

Marie’s East & West Food Pantries in Aurora IL are open 3 days a week to serve guests in need of nutrition support. Each guest may freely choose what their households will use, just like they would in a grocery store.

OVER 20,313 GUESTS SERVED

• Volunteers provided a grocery cart full (~70 lbs) of nourishing food to over 20,313 guests in 2019.
  • By “guests,” we mean an individual person who visits the pantry and fills a cart full of nutritious food to take home and share with their household. 

• Guests may visit once a week to fill a cart with an average if 70 pounds of fresh produce, dairy, deli, frozen meats, baked goods, cereals, and canned goods.
  • USDA calculates 1.2 pounds is an average meal (determined by age and appetite of individuals).

• Some personal care and household cleaning items are available as well.

57,187+ HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS NOURISHED

• 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.

FOOD RESCUED, FOOD SHARED – 47.6% Growth

• Pantry volunteers shared ~ 642 tons of food with guests. 47.6% increase from 2018
  •  155 tons of fresh produce.  12% increase from 2018 

• 80% of all food shared came from the Food Rescue Program, which has grown to 40 trips to local grocers each week by Marie’s Food Rescue Volunteers.

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.