U.S. representative Lauren Underwood (D-14) spoke at and toured Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry in Aurora Thursday, April 4.
She was on the second of two area visits to celebrate federal funding she secured for two local projects. Earlier in the day she visited Safe Passage in DeKalb.
The Interfaith pantry received $650,000 to renovate and upgrade the facility, allowing the Pantry to expand operations, improve accessibility to services and help more families who are struggling in food crisis.
Renovations will include the installation of an elevator to the pantry’s second floor, of the pantry; improve accessibility throughout the facility, purchase and install outdoor LED signage, a second-floor addition to include a meeting room, computer lab and clothes closet; purchase of a commercial washer/dryer; and improvements to the pantry kitchen.
DeKalb Safe Passage, an organization that serves survivors of domestic, sexual, and dating violence as well as stalking and human trafficking, was awarded $2,500,000. The grant will fund a 24/7 emergency shelter that will increase privacy and safety for survivors in the shelter; provide space for legal and medical advocacy, counseling and case management services; expand capacity for support services offered to children of domestic violence survivors; and improve ADA accessibility.
Over the past three years, the limited space in Safe Passage’s current facility has forced the organization to turn away hundreds of adults and children.
Both grants were among $12,662,536 in Community Project Funding that Underwood previously secured for Illinois’s 14th District in 2024 appropriations bills. The legislation was signed into law by President Joe Biden March 9.
—Al Benson