By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—With the month more than half over, No Shave November is still going strong at the Pelham Police Department.

“We’ve got more than 60 folks involved in it,” Pelham Police Lt. Davy Lott said.

“We have a spreadsheet (to keep track) of the beards,” Pelham Police Officer Mike Williams added with a laugh.

Officer at the Pelham, Alabaster and Helena police departments have been raising awareness and funds for the Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation. In exchange for a $50 donation to the organization, police officers at the three departments have been allowed to grow beards for the month.

“We at Wings of Hope greatly appreciate their support,” Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation Vice President and Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Tonya Willingham said. “They’re helping us connect with more families that need our services.”

The Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation provides assistance to families of terminally ill children through services such as house cleaning, preparing meals and financial assistance. Willingham helped to found the organization after losing two children to Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1.

“We’re giving these families time to focus on what’s important, and that’s their child,” Willingham said.

In addition to the $50 donated by each police officer participating in No Shave November, local businesses, including Vulcan Threaded Products and Reed Landscaping, and individuals have also donated to the cause, Lott said.

“It’s been good, a lot of folks know what we’re doing,” Lott said. “It’s been very positive.”

The three police departments are collecting donations and selling specially-designed No Shave November shirts. All the proceeds will be pooled and presented to the Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation during a Dec. 1 celebration at Buffalo Wild Wings in Alabaster, Lott said.

“One hundred percent of what they’ve raised goes to these families,” Willingham said, noting the foundation is currently assisting five families.

The Dec. 1 celebration will kick off around 6 p.m. and a beard-judging contest will begin around 7 p.m., Willingham said. Judges will include several of the children Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation works with. Additionally, Buffalo Wild Wings will donate a portion of the night’s proceeds to the organization, Willingham said.

For more information about Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation, visit Wingsofhopepediatricfoundation.com.