Ottawa radio personalities Karen Rhodes and Kris Michaels will be spending a cold December day sitting in a parking lot for 17 hours.

But it's for a good cause — the aptly named "Freezin for a Reezin." Rhodes, mid-morning host for WCMY-AM, and Michaels, the station's afternoon host, will be on air for 17 hours Friday, Dec. 18, in the Handy Foods parking lot to collect enough food to fill a 26-foot straight truck, donated by Stevenson Transfer, for the Ottawa Community Food Basket.

Michaels previously worked for a DeKalb radio station that did a similar fundraiser and was met with success.

"It was phenomenal," Michaels told The Times. "They still do it up there."

Michaels and Rhodes said the Ottawa fundraiser has already garnered much support from the city, businesses, organizations and schools.

WCMY chose the Ottawa food pantry as the recipient of its fundraiser because Rhodes volunteers at the pantry once a week and knows there's a growing need for donations — especially during the holidays.

"They have over 2,000 families on their registry," she said. "They're overwhelmed."

Considering the city's population, Rhodes said it's clear the economy has taken a toll on Ottawa residents.

In September, the pantry distributed 27,739 pounds of food and in October it distributed 30,391 pounds.

People are invited to drop off nonperishable food items throughout the day Dec. 18. Rhodes and Michaels will be broadcasting from the Handy Foods parking lot, 604 W. Main St., from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. For those who can't make it, other drop off locations in Ottawa include WCMY, 216 W. Lafayette St.; Book Mouse, 820 La Salle St.; Dolphin Car Walsh, 1439 Columbus St.; and Reddick Library, 1010 Canal St.

For those shopping that day, Handy Foods is offering specials.

Entertainment will be provided throughout the day with a meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus and performances by the Ottawa Township High School Jazz Choir and Fishsticks and Milk, the production company behind the "Ottawa: It's Serious Fun" music video.

"We have a big surprise we're doing with them," Rhodes said.

Michaels said the station hopes to make this an annual fundraising event.