Some of the officers show off their clean-shaven faces just before the fundraiser began.
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Members of the Sea Isle City Police Department are sporting shaggy beards that have been sprouting on their faces for the last month.
Normally clean-shaven, the officers actually have a good reason to explain why they have ditched the razors.
Since Nov. 1, Police Chief Tom McQuillen and other Sea Isle officers have been taking part in the annual “No Shave November” fundraising drive for cancer awareness.
Thanks to donations from the community and the fundraising efforts of the officers, the police department has collected more than $3,000 so far for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the highly acclaimed healthcare charity that helps kids and their families battling cancer.
“It’s a great and noble cause,” McQuillen said in an interview Tuesday.
Although the officers are anxious to shave off the itchy beards, McQuillen emphasized that any discomfort they have pales in comparison to the “horrible challenges” faced by children struggling with cancer.
“It’s a cause we can all get behind,” he said.
Since becoming police chief in 2018, McQuillen has stressed the importance of the department being more involved in community outreach and charitable efforts.
Each year, the police department participates in the No Shave November fundraiser to assist families battling cancer. It raised $2,000 in 2020 to help three local families coping with cancer.
“It just goes to show everyone’s willingness to help out. It speaks volumes about the men and women who work here,” McQuillen said.
Some of the officers show off their clean-shaven faces just before the fundraiser begins.
Lt. William Mammele was able to raise $765 this year for No Shave November – the most of any officer – with the help of his family, friends and other supporters. In addition, Mayor Leonard Desiderio donated $1,000 for the fundraiser.
“Most importantly, we want to thank everyone who donated to this event. The St. Judes Children’s Hospital truly appreciates your generosity,” the police department said on its Facebook page.
There is still time to donate. For anyone interested, click on this link: https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/TAEvents/Events...
“We’ll gladly take any amount,” McQuillen said, noting that the department will be accepting donations for the St. Jude’s fundraising drive for another week.
With the arrival of Dec. 1, the officers are normally able to break out the razors and cut off their beards. But this year, No Shave November will transition into “Don’t Shave December,” McQuillen said.
For Don’t Shave December, the officers will keep their beards for another month to help raise money for Desiderio’s annual Holiday Toy & Food Drive.
Don’t Shave December was held for the first time in 2020 and is expected to become an annual event based on its initial success. The police department raised $1,200 last year for the mayor’s food and toy drive.
Now in its 29th year, the toy and food drive is a communitywide effort involving local charities, civic groups, businesses and Sea Isle residents.
