New charity forms to support Aurora Food Pantry

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect information from the Volunteers of America.

The Aurora VFW Post 2629 and the Knights of Columbus Council 14186 have been purchasing food for the Aurora Food Pantry for several years, donating over $36,000 of perishable food yearly as one of their community projects. But the need for assistance is growing.

When the organizations first started buying food for the pantry, they brought in $200 of perishables per week. Now, they’re up to $600. The Aurora Kares charity, a collaborative effort between members of each group, was recently established to enhance community support.

David Kuhary, secretary and treasurer of Aurora Kares, said he created the organization to have an entity with no overhead or administration costs so donations could go directly to the food bank. He was concerned that because the Volunteers of America, which administers the pantry, is a national organization, money donated to them could be going to its headquarters.

In an email, the VOA said that’s not the case. Donations made to it for the Aurora Food Pantry do stay in that community. And its many corporate, organizational and individual donors regularly donate to the VOA Aurora Food Pantry to help keep its shelves full.

Regardless, Kuhary submitted the paperwork to receive 501(c)(3) status for Aurora Kares in October of 2024 and got it in November. Now, people can donate to their organization, and the money will be directly used to buy food for the pantry.

The organization has been up and running for less than six months. Today, it’s made up of Kuhary, John Drsek, president, and trustees Kenneth White, Mike Shydlowski and Rick Carpenter.

“Two of us go shopping every week, and we buy all this perishable food,” Kuhary said. “Shopping on Monday is the most rewarding thing I do every week.”

When Aurora Kares brings the food to the pantry, they are often met with a line of people who know they’re coming.

“They thank us that we’re doing this for them, [saying that] they couldn’t do it without us,” Drsek said. “We get these cards, and it’s heartwarming. It makes us feel good that we’re doing something.”

Oftentimes, the food is gone by Thursday, and the pantry has to go out to buy more. But, Kuhary tells them to call them if this happens, and they’ll come help.

“When we buy the food, and we go there and it’s gone again, we know it went to [people in the community],” Drsek said.

The community has been supportive of the initiative so far, contributing monthly donations and written checks. Kuhary said some people are even transferring money from other places they donate to and keeping their money within the community.

The VFW and Knights of Columbus also run a kettle corn popping and sales operation every Wednesday in the summer and every other Wednesday September through October to raise money for their organizations.

Members of each organization make and package the kettle corn in the parking lot of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Aurora, where customers can drive through in their cars to buy it.

“We are very fortunate that the community supports us, and with the drive-through, they don’t have to get out of their cars … It’s a great product — it’s probably the best kettle corn you’ll ever have,” Drsek said. “The support we get from the community allows us to do all this good that we do.”

Kuhary said they hope to continue helping the pantry with everything it needs.

“They tell us all the time that some of the households they deal with almost have four generations … It’s pretty worthwhile, I’ll tell you,” he said.
To donate to Aurora Kares, contact Aurora1Kares@gmail.com or visit the VFW or Knights of Columbus.