A citywide Sunday Brunch Fundraiser will be held Sunday, Oct. 27 by a coalition of more than 20 Fox Valley restaurants. Fill the Bowls organizers will welcome guests of all ages from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Gaslight Manor Banquets, 2485 Church Road in Aurora. Funds raised will support food rescue volunteers, who work with more than 40 community-oriented grocery store donors to end food waste and nourish Aurora area households. Food is shared three times a week at Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry’s East Side and West Side locations.
Tickets are on sale at mariewilkinsonfoodpantry.org/FillTheBowls.
A donation of $35 is requested for adults, $12 for children ages six to 12, and children under five may eat for free.
Guests will be treated to morning mimosas, a wide array of soups, savory bites and sweet samplings from Aurora area chefs. Aurora’s Metea Valley High School and Waubonsie Valley High School student groups will entertain with live music, raffles, and silent auctions throughout the meal.
Annual Spirit Award presentations will be from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will honor Dick Schindel, president of the Retired Teachers Association, for organizing volunteers for Student Food Day at East Aurora High School. Annette Johnson, East Aurora School Board president, will be recognized for developing a food rescue program in District 131, and helping to open Marie’s East Pantry, at East Aurora High School.
The work of food rescue volunteers makes it possible to share food with more than 12,000 pantry guests at the lowest possible cost, just $24 per person, per year. Donations of fresh produce, deli, dairy, frozen meats and baked goods are brought in by food rescue volunteer drivers from 40 locations each week.
Major support for Fill the Bowls is provided by AC’s Pub, Gripple Inc., and Clear Perspective Advisors.
—Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry