As the winter cold front swept into Chipotle’s foyer, hungry customers waited eagerly to get their hands on a burrito bowl, taco, or burrito. While this is the normal turnout during weekday evenings, this night was for Huntley’s Speech Team.

On Jan. 30, the Chipotle off of Algonquin Road hosted the second annual fundraiser for the Speech Team. From 4-8 p.m., half of all purchases at the restaurant went towards funding upcoming competitions for the team.

The national competition, this year held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in June, is costly. Everything raised will go towards funding this cross-country trip addition to other events.

“The money has impacted the team as a whole,” Kate Emmel, senior and team captain said. “[Last year], we were able to send all those who qualified to nationals.”

According to Emmel, the money also contributes to scholarships for students who attend summer speech camps.

Every person who came in and said they were coming to support the team, had their money automatically go towards the cause. As a popular destination, this was the right place for the team to hold their fundraiser.

As the night progressed, fewer customers showed up, but there was no letdown. Around 7 p.m. the line was flowing towards the back of the store. As the night was coming to an end, it made its way closer towards the food-making station, people rested at the tail end of the foyer.

“When I was there, the line was wrapped around [the store],” senior Jillian Hooker said.

According to head coach Tom George, he received a text from assistant coach, James Wallace, indicating the line had not slowed down even in the final hour of the fundraiser.

Reflecting on it, the income was tremendous.

“I was very happy with the turn-out,” George said.