(Aurora, Illinois ) - As grocery and gas prices continue to rise, the City of Aurora is collaborating with the Northern Illinois Food Bank to help ease the burden. In time for the Father's Day and Juneteenth holiday weekend, the first citywide Pop-Up Pantry this year will be held on Friday, June 17, beginning at 9 a.m. at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive. Free boxes of fresh meat, produce, and more will be provided to up 1,000 families in a drive-thru distribution. No identification is necessary. Distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition, ten random guests will receive a $50 gas card provided by the Aurora Divine Nine Alliance, a collective of more than 150 local members of historically Black fraternities and sororities, who will be onsite to distribute the food.The receiving line, which forms early, begins at the Smith Boulevard entrance to the park.Traffic will be managed by the Aurora Police Department, the Aurora Emergency Management Agency, and the Citizens Police Academy of Aurora Alumni Association.