ROCHELLE — With the winter season around the corner, one local organization is making sure youngsters in need stay warm.

For the past several years the Rochelle Community Action Network has been working with Operation Warm to provide children with new winter coats. The members of CAN discovered the nationwide organization through the Rochelle Rotary and since joining forces, CAN has purchased hundreds of coats for area children.

“This is our fifth year working with Operation Warm to provide our children with winter coats. Since we began, we have purchased almost 400 coats with approximately $6,700 of funds donated by local businesses and individuals,” said Eva Chu, CAN board member.

Previously CAN accepted donations of gently used winter gear, which is given to the children in conjunction with the annual Christmas shopping trip event.

“We still do use many donated coats; however, we wanted to have the opportunity to provide new coats in the youth sizes that were needed the most by our kids to help supplement our donated supply,” CAN board member Mike Dale explained.

During the Christmas event area children receive a gift, a book, and winter gear. This past year CAN treated families to a spaghetti dinner held at the First Presbyterian Church.

Other fundraisers organized by the group include an annual pork chop BBQ with the fire department in November and a food truck fair coming later this month.

“We have set the date and the location for the annual Christmas Shopping Trip,” Connie Avery, CAN board member said. “We will be holding a supper once again for the families and the library provides a gift book for each participating child. Santa has been contacted and will be stopping by.”

CAN board members say being able to provide is rewarding.

“It is really nice to be able to give the kids new coats,” CAN board member Michelle Pease said. “We start out with piles and piles of coats and have very few left over at the end of the night.”

Anyone interested in donating can send check to:  Rochelle CAN, Post Office Box 432, Rochelle, IL 61068 or visit the Operation Warm website. All donations to Operation Warm are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

“It is rewarding to see children receive a new coat. This is one item that parents do not have to be concerned with providing for their children,” Avery said.