Volunteer Chamus Burnside-Savazzini of the Aurora Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority distributes food to visitors at the Holiday Hopes Food Distribution last November. In honor of the Juneteenth holiday on June 19, Aurora members of historically Black fraternities and sororities will volunteer at the food distribution drive-thru on Friday, June 18.

The City of Aurora is helping 750 families put food on their tables – and grills – this holiday weekend.

Free groceries will be distributed at the 11th Pop-Up Pantry Drive-Thru beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 18 at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive.

</div In preparation for the Juneteenth and Father’s Day holiday weekend, the Northern Illinois Food Bank is providing a specialized menu, including protein packages of fish fillets, chicken breasts, and other meats; dairy boxes of butter, cheese, yogurt, and more; and various whole melons. All food is free and provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. The drive-thru is a no-contact distribution where volunteers place the food in the vehicles. In honor of the Juneteenth holiday on Saturday, more than 50 Aurora members of the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities, collectively known as the Divine 9, will serve as volunteers for the drive-thru.

The Aurora Divine Nine Alliance is comprised of members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.

This is the 11th citywide food distribution Aurora has hosted since the pandemic began in 2020. More than 10,000 families have been assisted through this community effort in partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry.