On a cold morning this holiday season, the Village of Addison hosted its annual Shop with the Hero at a local Walmart, pairing children and families with police officers, firefighters and community volunteers for shopping, wrapping and coat distribution.

Event host Marco opened the program by thanking volunteers and families and listing partners. "We can't do this without you," he said, calling out the Village of Addison and Mayor Tom Hundley for permitting the event and recognizing Walmart, Clyde's Donuts, Dunkin' Donuts, Overton Gear Chicago, the Knights of Columbus and the Madonna Shriners for donations and space.

Mayor Tom Hundley thanked volunteers and praised cooperation between the police and fire departments, calling the event part of the "Addison Advantage." He urged the community to enjoy the holiday program and extended seasonal greetings to attendees.

Chief Selvig thanked volunteers and singled out officers Officer Lasik and Officer Sabanski for organizing the effort, and acknowledged village manager Joe Moreno and sponsor Mike Brunson of the Knights of Columbus for supporting the event. "This event would not be possible without all of you," Chief Selvig said, emphasizing the role of public-safety personnel in community outreach.

Deputy Fire Chief Chris Mansfield described the fire department's prevention bureau as an "unsung hero" for public education and safety work that supports events like this, saying the program allows department members "to give back to the community." He thanked sponsors and encouraged families to enjoy the activities.

Host Marco provided logistical instructions for participants: children called by name would be paired with a "hero" for shopping, three checkout lines were prepared, and a gift-wrapping station was located adjacent to the checkout area. He also noted that the Knights of Columbus were distributing free coats and the Madonna Shriners had additional toys available for children.

The event combined short remarks from faith leaders, municipal officials and public-safety representatives with volunteer-driven operations that included shopping assistance, checkout and gift wrapping. Organizers encouraged participants to visit Santa and supporter tables after shopping. The program concluded with thanks to sponsors and volunteers and an invitation to begin the shopping portion of the event.