🌱 Patch AM: How Rockford schools quietly send food home for winter break

Hello again Rockford! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Rockford schools quietly send food home for winter break
• Is your west side block on Rockford’s $65 million fix-up list?
• What Rockford police say they found in one traffic stop

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Cooler; afternoon mist, with a high of 41 and low of 34 degrees.
• Thursday: Low clouds, temps: high: 41, low: 35.
• Friday: A morning shower in places, with a high of 44 and low of 33 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Schools, food bank partner to fight child hunger during winter break (wrex.com) — Rockford families facing food insecurity over winter break can turn to a growing backpack program that now serves 23 local schools with weekend and holiday meals. Northern Illinois Food Bank partners with schools like Lathrop Elementary to discreetly send food home, easing parents’ budgets and keeping kids fed when school cafeterias are closed. Families and schools can still sign up to participate.
   

2. Rockford leaders prepare ‘historic' investment into west side infrastructure (wifr.com) — Rockford’s west side, especially the 13th Ward, is set for a “historic” infrastructure boost, with about $65 million targeted there as part of a $385 million citywide plan from 2026–2030. Expect road, bridge, and sidewalk upgrades around Tay, West State, Winnebago, and Cedar Streets, funded largely by the city’s 1% infrastructure sales tax and other state and federal sources.
   

3. Rockford man sentenced for having ghost gun, machine gun device (wifr.com) — A 20-year-old Rockford resident has been sentenced to six years in state prison after police say they found multiple firearms, including a ghost gun and a machine gun conversion device, during an August traffic stop in the city. Prosecutors say the illegal weapons and high-capacity magazines posed a serious public safety risk, and the man will also serve supervised release after prison.
   

4. City First Church provides free meals to 250 families ahead of Christmas (mystateline.com) — Rockford’s City First Church on Spring Creek is stepping up to fight holiday hunger, giving free meals to 250 local families through a food distribution supported by Northern Illinois Food Bank. Church leaders say this is their third such event in a month, reflecting rising food insecurity and a push to make sure neighbors can celebrate Christmas with enough to eat.
   

5. Last minute holiday shopping frenzy: stores brace for rush (wrex.com) — Rockford shoppers still have a narrow window for last-minute Christmas gifts, with local boutique The Porch on Perryville and big-box stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, and Walgreens adjusting hours on Christmas Eve. Managers say December 23 is their busiest day, and while in-store shopping is still possible, any gifts shipped now won’t arrive by Christmas, though post offices remain open on Christmas Eve.
   

📸 Around Rockford

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Rockford

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday December 25

• City Offices Closed - Christmas
  Rockford, IL Calendar Rockford, IL 61104

Friday December 26

• Stateline Fastpitch Softball Tournament
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
• Rockford Thunder MLIS Game
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  6:30 pm

Saturday December 27

• Stateline Fastpitch Softball Tournament
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park

Sunday December 28

• Hispanic Soccer League
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  8:00 am

Monday December 29

• Raptors 3v3 Tournament
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  8:00 am
• Golf Driving Range
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  10:00 am

Tuesday December 30

• Big Cat Goalkeeping Clinic
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  9:00 am

📣 Rockford Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 24

• X Bar Bingo at Chewy’s Bar and Grill Every Wednesday with Matt!
  Chewy’s Sports Bar & Grill , 2233 S Perryville Rd , Rockford
  7:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• FACILITY CLOSED
  Atwood Center Indoor Sports Center

Friday December 26

• Stateline Fastpitch Softball Tournament
  Atwood Center Indoor Sports Center
• Kids After Hours Laser Tag
  Cherry Valley Public Library District , 755 E State St , Cherry Valley
  5:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Rockford PatchAM possible:

• Mike’s Mowing & More Inc — (815) 721-4464
  Property Maintenance, Tree Removal, & Landscaping
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I have been collecting buildings and accessories since my son was 6 months old.
  He's now 37. I wanted to share this this holiday season. I haven't put it up for the last 4 years. I had so much fun getting it all together this… (Nextdoor North End Square)
• First post!
  The Deli Market on 7th Street, directly across from Hai Quynh Restaurant in the midtown district, is worth a visit. Their menu includes $5.00 subs… (Nextdoor Midtown District)

• Cintas posted a job opening for Warehouse Associate - Loader/Unloader - 2nd Shift in Rockford. Apply here.
• ServiceMaster Clean posted a job opening for Commercial Cleaner Rockford in Rockford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Rockford here.

Ok Rockford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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