12 Days of Chicago Christmas: Local heroes

How it works: Businesses apply on the ShoCo website to be part of the program, then are interviewed by co-founder Carina Daniels about their community work. They are looking to support businesses that donate to local charities or have mission-focused hiring.

• "We want to make Chicago the birthplace of the shop community movement," Daniels tells Axios.

The list: ShoCo features more than 30 businesses so far who work with disabled adults, unhoused veterans, at-risk youth or environmental programs.

• Beverage businesses include Veteran Roasters and Southside Grinds.
• Home goods producers include Meliora cleaning products and Zefiro.
• Body care products include Nico's Organics and Yasou.