Naperville firefighter Kevin Caroll has worked about a dozen Christmas shifts in his 28-year career, but Friday was the first time there was a special gift delivered to him at the fire station.

Girl Scouts and their families from the Islamic Center of Naperville played Santa on Christmas morning delivering baskets full of Panera bagels, coffee cake, fruit and eggs to all 10 fire stations in town.

“This is a first. It’s very nice,” Caroll said.

After delivering treats the girls also chatted with the firefighters about their jobs and climbed in the fire trucks to explore.

“It is very much appreciated,” said firefighter Tom Kriss. “It’s not home, but it’s kind of like spending Christmas with your second family.”

The morning was about more than breakfast. Group leaders hope to counteract negative opinions about their faith.

“With what is going on in the world today, we have to be the ambassadors for peace,” said program director Saima Hasan. “We have to flood the hearts of our fellow Americans with love and kindness and show them what being Muslim is really about.”

(Photo via Daniel White, Daily Herald staff photographer)

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