Weiser Police Department takes part in No-shave November event

No-Shave November was steered toward becoming a charitable event in 2009 and participants have been encouraged since to donate funds to cancer battling and research foundations.
 In Weiser, the police department has taken on the challenge of No-Shave November and collects donation money from its employees to donate to a local charity. For the past ten years, the police department has been growing out their normally shaved facial hair and donating to the Ho-Ho Express, said Police Chief Carl Smith.
 “It just seemed like the natural thing to do,” said Smith. “There’s always kids that show up at the last minute…we donate to help bridge that gap for kids they didn’t count on at the last minute. It works out pretty good.”
 The Hill family in Chicago took action 11 years ago to shift No-Shave November to a charitable system after the family patriarch passed away from colon cancer, according to the No-Shave November team’s website. Every November, participants have donated the saved grooming cost throughout the month and have helped the web-based organization raise over $10 million. The organization has made the goal to continue to donate to cancer focused research and education.
“We believe that together, anything is possible, and we’ll get closer to eradicating cancer one whisker at a time,” said the website.
 The WPD began their own No-Shave November fundraiser between five and ten years ago. The department helps facilitate the Ho-Ho Express every year, escorting children to and from Weiser to Ontario. The decision to donate money raised to the event was natural because of the timing, said Smith.
 Most police officers at WPD are clean shaven daily, said Lieutenant Troy Krahn. The month gives an opportunity for officers to give their skin a break from shaving daily as well as adding warmth to their face as the colder months approach.
 Chief Smith and Krahn decided to ask    all those working at the department that wished to donate to give at least $20 each to create a baseline amount.
 “Not only donating our time and effort to make sure [the Ho-Ho Express] happens,” said Smith. “It’s nice to see a couple of the kids get something unexpected.”
 While required to keep a clean-shaven face throughout the year, the officers are allowed to grow facial hair so long as it is kept tidy and trim. The officers participating may keep facial hair until the end of the year as well, not being required to shave immediately after November. Krahn said he is one that begins to grow out his facial hair at the beginning of the month and keep it until the end of the year, with the facial hair becoming comfortable by the time November ends.
 “A lot of the guys keep it through December,” said Krahn. “Most of the guys are still sporting their beards, taking the kids to do the Ho-Ho Express. It fits together real well.”
 The details of the Ho-Ho Express are still being discussed as of Monday. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of many community events and has made many annual events find creative ways to continue. The WPD intends to donate the money raised to the Ho-Ho Express again this year, usually presenting the donations to Santa at Weiser High School just before the event begins. It is amazing to see how happy the children that attend the event become, said Krahn. Many gather gifts for family members rather than buy gifts for themselves.
 “They typically don’t even buy much for themselves, they buy for the whole rest of their family,” said Krahn. “That’s pretty sweet to see younger kids doing that. That’s the real spirit of Christmas.”
 Smith encourages community members to stay safe. If anything suspicious is witnessed or occurs, do not hesitate to call in to dispatch. The WPD can be reached at (208) 414-2244. For emergencies, please call 9-1-1.