Holiday Warmth on Madison: A Toy & Coat Drive Powered by Community

Dec 24, 2025
3 min read

On Saturday, December 20, 2025, the Billy Goat Tavern on Madison Avenue became more than a Chicago landmark-it became a launchpad for hope.

With Bob Fioretti’s longstanding sponsorship and hands-on commitment, a core group of dedicated volunteers delivered a festive holiday lunch with Santa, turning a cold December afternoon into a warm, community-first experience for families who need it most, especially across Chicago’s Near West and West Sides.

A Day Built on Service-and Real Impact

This year’s drive reached a meaningful milestone: more than 100 children received a gift and a visit with Santa. For many families, it wasn’t just a holiday moment-it was a tangible reminder that their neighbors see them, support them, and are willing to show up.

Generous donations of coats, hats, and toys from ABOMA and the Local 1 Chief Engineers Association helped ensure kids walked away with essentials that matter when winter hits hard.

The Operational Backbone: Angie’s Angels and a Volunteer Core That Keeps Growing

This event doesn’t run on good intentions alone-it runs on execution, collaboration, and people who do what they say they’ll do.

Angie’s Angels, coordinated by Angelina Briguglio, continues the tradition of organizing this drive since its inception. Year after year, the volunteer base has scaled up-more hands, more coordination, more community partners-demonstrating what sustainable volunteerism looks like when it’s rooted in trust and consistency.

Billy Goat Tavern’s Generosity: Lunch for Kids and Families

A special thank you goes to Billy Goat Tavern, which donated the luncheon for the children and families. That gift wasn’t just food-it was dignity, hospitality, and a place to feel safe and welcomed for a few hours during a season that can be financially overwhelming.

Capturing the Moment: Jim Roche’s Photographs, Given Freely

The spirit of the day was captured by photographer Jim Roche, who donated his time and talent to preserve these memories. His images are more than photos-they’re proof points of a community showing up, closing gaps, and building something better together.

What Families Shared: The Real-World Headwinds They’re Facing

Beyond the smiles and Santa hats, families spoke candidly about the pressures shaping their day-to-day reality:

Concerns about safety and crime, and what it means for kids walking to school, playing outside, and families moving through their own neighborhoods.
The strain of cost of living, from rent and groceries to transportation and basic household needs, and trying to make ends meet with little margin for error.

These aren’t abstract policy discussions. They’re lived experiences. And they underscore why neighborhood-based support systems, paired with serious, long-term solutions, must stay at the forefront.

Santa’s Message-and a Community Promise

Santa greeted every child, listened, laughed, and offered a message that landed with simple power: a Happy Holiday and a blessed New Year for all.

For families navigating real challenges, the promises spoken in a room full of volunteers who came to serve felt grounded rather than performative.

Bob Fioretti’s Continued Commitment Across Chicagoland

This drive continues because Bob Fioretti continues to prioritize it, not as a one-time appearance, but as a sustained investment in people and neighborhoods. His ongoing work with pastors throughout the Chicagoland area reflects a community strategy that recognizes what local faith leaders already know: trust is built face-to-face, year after year, block by block.

The Bottom Line: This Is What Community Capacity Looks Like

This wasn’t just a holiday event. It was a demonstration of what happens when sponsors, unions, coordinators, local businesses, volunteers, and families align around a shared mission: