Deputies continue creative campaigning for Christmas Castle program
Coshocton County Sheriff’s deputies who made a donation to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Castle are allowed to grow beards from November 2017 to the end of February 2018. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – For the third year in a row, Coshocton County Sheriff’s deputies are growing beards for a good cause.
The fundraiser, which helps The Salvation Army’s Christmas Castle program, was organized by Matt Woitel, Mark Dobbins and Scott Mast.
For a $100 donation, deputies who are typically only allowed to have mustaches can have a beard for four months. They must then be clean shaven by March 1.
Lt. Dean Hettinger said they started the fundraiser in November when they went to their winter uniforms. He also shared that they’ve raised close to $4,000 in each of the last two years.
“You have to keep it (your beard) neat and professional and this year they are doing something different by allowing goatees,” Hettinger said. “It’s all for a good cause and we have a lot of fun with it. The sheriff’s office really enjoys the Christmas Castle project.”
In addition to donations, the Christmas Castle also needs volunteers to take children shopping at Wal-Mart for items such as pants, shirts, coats and shoes.
“A couple of us went shopping last year and we hope to get more to do that this year,” Woitel said.
There are 34 people on the list of contributors from the sheriff’s office.
“We get some donations too from people who don’t grow beards, but want to help the cause,” Mast said.
Captain Victoria Clark from The Salvation Army said they currently have more than 368 families with children between the ages of 6 and 18 signed up for the Christmas Castle project.
“We’ve been spending $75 per child, but this year we are raising it to $80,” she said. “Prices have gone up and I’ve looked over receipts and we seemed to be spending just over $75 a lot of times. It’s been at $75 for many, many years, but we just have to bump it up now.”
There is still plenty of time to make monetary donations to the Christmas Castle project. Contributions can be sent to The Salvation Army at 219 N. Fourth St., Coshocton, OH 43812 or dropped off.
“Last year we had quite a few individual mister and misses leave us envelopes with generous gifts,” Clark said.
Volunteers also are welcome to come help children shop from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 11-12 at Wal-Mart. If interested in giving your time, call 740-622-0971, ext. 105 and leave a message.
“We couldn’t do this without the generosity and support of individuals in the community and the deputies doing creative campaigning like they do,” Clark said. “Christmas is all the more wonderful when the community gets involved and people are part of something bigger than themselves. It’s not just about monetary donations either. It’s about giving a little bit of your heart and a smile goes a long way with kids.”
Category: People & Places
