ROCHELLE — Just how cold was it standing in the path of a brutal winter wind distributing Thanksgiving meals on Saturday? Down into your bones cold! It was 20 degrees when Rochelle Township High School Student Council and FFA volunteers assembled at Prescott Brothers about 8:15 a.m. Saturday and 21 degrees when they left at 11:30 a.m., but the teamwork involved coupled with the gratitude of those receiving the meals filled hearts with warmth.

The 17 RTHS students and three staff members with help from the food pantry’s Jennie O’Rorke, Cal Jacobs, Chet Olson and a few other volunteers kept the drive thru line moving.

On Thursday, The Coyote/Superhits 93.5 collected $12,000 and three tons of food at Prescott Ford. Friday the pantry volunteers sorted and packaged it up for distribution on Saturday. Recipients received a frozen turkey & roasting pan, a five-pound bag of potatoes, a Northern Illinois Food Bank box of ingredients for traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, plus a bag of assorted ingredients.