Aurora Pantries Receiving Funds Through State's 'Missing Money' Program

AURORA, IL — This December, local food pantries, including three in Aurora, are set to receive funds through the state's "Missing Money" program. In all, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs is returning $100,000 in missing money to food pantries throughout the state.

Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry will get the largest return — $5,006.40 — of the three. Two Rivers Head Start Agency will get $2,965.36, and Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry will get $47.51 through the program.

Each December, Frerichs' office focuses on returning money through the ICash program to nonprofit groups that help people in need. The gesture is especially important this year following the recent federal government shutdown, which stopped food assistance to many Illinois families in last month.

"Food pantries always step up to feed people in need," Frerichs said. "It's been a challenging year with federal cutbacks to food banks earlier in the year. The Trump administration opting to cut off food assistance to our state’s neediest folks last month was a double whammy. We wanted to see if we could help, when our local food pantries put meals on the table for millions of Illinoisans."

The unclaimed property program is one of the state's oldest consumer protection initiatives, according to the treasurer's office. In Illinois, the state treasurer is tasked with safeguarding unclaimed property, such as the contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes, unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards.

Illinois holds more than $5 billion in unclaimed property. More than $2.4 billion has been returned since Frerichs took office, the most in state history, according to his department.

Residents wondering if they have unclaimed property can check the online database at icash.illinoistreasurer.gov. The state treasurer is legally required to return unclaimed property to its owners or heirs, no matter how long it takes.