Stacks of stuffing mix, canned vegetables and other Thanksgiving trimmings were piled high on the stage at Temple B’nai Israel, 400 N. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora Sunday, Nov. 16.
That was before volunteers from New Hope Advent Christian Church of Aurora and the temple packed 80 holiday food boxes.
Approximately 35 volunteers combined from both congregations participated, said Charlotte Dillon, event organizer and New Hope board chair. Each box holds side dishes to feed 10 persons, she said. A turkey will be added to each box by the food pantry.
Boxes hold side dishes to make a full meal for 10 persons. In addition to food, boxes contain a holiday greeting in English and Spanish from both the Temple and New Hope. Stickers on boxes say “Packed with Love,” with the Temple name and New Hope’s name.
The boxes packed Sunday will be among donations going out to Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry in Aurora. The pantry serves about 5,900 households comprising 16,000 clients. The pantry has set a goal of 900 food boxes for the holiday.
Activities opened with Dillon and rabbi Edward Friedman blessing volunteers. New Hope holds Sunday worship services at the temple.
After a noon luncheon, guest speakers welcomed volunteers. In addition to Dillon, they were Julie Bossert, temple board chair and Hillary Brennan, 30-year Interfaith board member.
Brennan recalled how a group of Aurora churches founded the pantry in 1981 at Hesed House homeless shelter. Founders included the late Marie Wilkinson, a community activist, who eventually founded her own pantry.
According to Brennan, the Interfaith pantry is a nonprofit governed by a 12-member board. Its budget is $1.4 million annually, she said. “Serving the community at large” is the pantry’s mission, Brennan noted.
She said the pantry operates Monday through Friday. In addition to offering shopping to clients three days weekly, online ordering with pickup has been added and a drive-up service is to debut in December.
The federal government shutdown, loss of SNAP benefits and rising food costs have increased numbers of pantry patrons Brennan said. She appealed for more volunteers to step up as home-delivery drivers.
Marilyn Katz of the temple gave volunteers their marching orders. She showed two posters that listed how items were to be packed. “Heavy items on the bottom, medium in the middle and lighter items on top.”
Dillon reflected, “”This was an unbelievable afternoon of collaborative interfaith ministry. Our common theme was that the boxes were packed with love. And it is our hope that each family knows they are not alone in these times, that we care about people knowing God’s love and our care for one another, as agents of God’s love, is given freely and with abundance and joy.”
New Hope holds Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m. at the temple. For more information, visit
newhopeacc.org or email info@newhopeaccorg.
—Al Benson