It’s late June here in Chicago, and that means at least three things:
- We just stopped playing professional hockey last night. (Congratulations, Blackhawks!)
- Bar and restaurant patios are full even in the middle of the afternoon, one of dozens of reasons to love this city.
- The “vests” are out in full force.
![](https://i0.wp.com/1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqNaMM8kkQI/UcoEeM7DhwI/AAAAAAAAATk/S9JPcBW0nTU/s320/charity+workers+in+vests.jpg?resize=320%2C165)
In case this phenomenon is not happening in your burg, the “vests” are workers who occupy street corners and solicit donations for charity. They wear colored vests representing their causes – Children’s International, Greenpeace or whatnot. Sometimes they’re also called “chuggers,” short for “charity muggers.”