Aurora Food Pantry One Of 18 Awarded Grants By Geneva Nonprofit

GENEVA, IL — Aurora's Holy Angels Food Pantry is one of 18 local pantries that received a sum of grant money from Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank to help provide access to food for neighbors in need.

More than $454,000 in grants was split between programs across seven Illinois counties, spanning Kane, DuPage and Lake counties. The money will go toward infrastructure improvements, including new vehicle purchases, facility improvements and expansion, as well as improved communications and technology, according to a news release.

"These grants are critical for reaching underserved individuals, especially people of color," Jacqui Hebein, Northern Illinois Food Bank director of agency relations, said in a statement. "Our intention in providing these grants is to help our network improve and transform access, convenience and dignity so that our neighbors have the food and resources they need to thrive."

Selected food banks were required to meet certain requirements in order to receive grants. Recipients were chosen based on community demographics, food insecurity, the organization's capacity, and pandemic impact.

Aside from Holy Angels Food Pantry, suburban organizations that received grants include:

• Avon Cares Food Pantry in Round Lake Park
• Bensenville Wood Dale Food Pantry in Bensenville
• Disciples Food Pantry in Villa Park
• Food for Greater Elgin
• HCS Family Services in Hinsdale
• Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville
• Lombard/Villa Park Food Pantry
• Rahmah Interfaith Food Pantry in Lake Villa
• St. Vincent DePaul Weekly Food Pantry in Downers Grove.

Collectively, the 18 organizations that received grants provided 11.3 million meals to people in need in the last year, the release said.

With a network spanning 900 food pantries, soup kitchens and senior meal programs, Northern Illinois Food Bank is able to provide grants on a quarterly basis as a result of private donations and government funding.