FITCHBURG — Members of the police department recently raised $4,225 to donate to Home Base, the third year they have participated in the Home Base No Shave campaign in November for a good cause.
Community Engagement Unit Commander Lt. Jeffrey Howe organizes the fundraiser and coordinates with Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program that provides valuable resources to military veterans.
“The FPD is part of our community,” he said. “We represent our community, and we don’t take it lightly. We want to give back to our community and by providing this donation, it will allow our veterans to get valuable services that they may need. The sacrifices each and every veteran makes each day does not go unnoticed.”
He said they chose to participate in the Home Base No Shave endeavor for two good reasons.
“Home Base specializes in treating invisible wounds such as PTSD and traumatic brain injuries,” Howe said. “They have a holistic approach that offers support, treatment, and hope for our veterans that may find themselves in a desperate state of needing help.
“It also gives officers the ability to grow a beard,” he continued. “Typically, by policy we are not allowed to grow a beard, but the chief allows us to grow a beard if you participate.”
Participants can grow some scruff for a $100 donation or simply make a donation. Howe said they had over 40 people donate including 34 police officers, two dispatchers, Building Facilities Director Jay Morcaldi, and community members, some anonymously.
“Even though this is a No Shave event it is open to everyone in our department to participate,” he said. “Some of our female officers also participated in the program. It is all about raising money to help our veterans and the community was very supportive.”
Home Base Executive Director Jack Hammond, a retired U.S. Armed Forces brigadier general, said they appreciate every donation, including the one from the Fitchburg Police Department.
“I think the biggest part about this campaign is the demonstration of support by communities from across New England and the country,” Hammond said “It goes well beyond ‘thank you for your service’ — it’s something tangible people are doing to show them that they care. At Home Base, we offer some of the best care in the United States, so with all of these departments reaching out into these communities, they are bound to know someone who needs help and connect them to us. Every time they do that, they are saving a life.”
Howe said he is not one to grow a beard but participates because it is for a good cause.
“I don’t like how the beard feels as it grows in and it is very uncomfortable for me,” he said. “I wanted to shave but I did not let the discomfort stop me. My philosophy is I can be a little uncomfortable for a few weeks in order to show my support for a veteran that may need assistance. It is the least I can do to help and show my support and appreciation.”
He said he finds that having a beard “is a conversation starter,” giving him the opportunity to talk about his reasons for doing it.
“As the beard is growing in, I would ask people in the community if they knew why I was growing a beard,” Howe said. “They usually did not know. I would then explain to them what Home Base does and how it helps. It helps people find out about other resources available to our veterans.”
Howe said they will be participating in a ceremony on Dec. 14 onboard the USS Constitution in Boston, making the donation official. They blew away their goal of raising $2,500, a feat he said they are incredibly proud of.
“It is important for us because we represent the community that we serve,” Howe said. “Part of our community and police department consists of veterans. It is important for us to remember the sacrifices they made for each of us. They are our friends, neighbors, loved ones and we can’t forget that.”
