Interim Executive Director Promoted At Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry

AURORA, IL — The interim executive director at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry has taken over the position in an official capacity.

The Board of Directors appointed Katie Arko to helm the pantry, located at 1110 Jericho Road, executives announced Monday.

"We are thrilled that Katie accepted our offer to lead the pantry as executive director," Christi Meixner, chair of the Board of Directors, said in a statement. "Her prior experience, compassion, and constant upbeat and giving spirit will help the pantry continue to feed our community's most vulnerable."

Arko has worked in a leadership capacity at Aurora nonprofits for more than 30 years, executives said. At the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry, she served as senior director of development for three years and as interim executive director for the last four months. She has previously served as the vice president of development at Paramount Theatre for 17 years and as executive director of the Rush-Copley Foundation for seven years prior to that.

"I am truly humbled to be given this opportunity," Arko said in a statement. "This is a critical time, as the need for food assistance continues to increase. I've had a front-row view of families struggling to put food on the table. And I'm extremely proud of the work done by the pantry staff, volunteers, and board of directors, continuing to feed 1,300 families every single week.

She continued: "I cannot wait to continue our efforts to find inventive ways to reach those in need. And to every donor who supports the pantry year-round, we couldn't do it without you."