Portsmouth PD assists the CAC in Beards for Bucks Fundraiser Event!

Portsmouth, N.H. – It's a campaign called “Beards for Bucks.’' Starting October 1st, law enforcement officers across Rockingham County will go razor-less to raise awareness and funds for the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County (CACRC), a local non-profit organization that collaborates with law enforcement to provide safe, child-friendly spaces for investigative services of child abuse.

In return for a donation of $30, Rockingham County police officers are allowed to grow forbidden facial hair for the entire month—a look that is typically prohibited according to department rules. By participating in Beards for Bucks, officers are spreading the word about child abuse prevention as well as the CACRC’s dedication to helping child abuse victims in our county. Involvement in this campaign is not limited to law enforcement; rather, anyone can make a donation in the name of a participating officer. A full list of Beards for Bucks participants can be found at www.cacnh.org.

“One of the oaths we take as a public servant is to be part of the service oriented aspect of our community," said Portsmouth Chief of Police Robert Merner, who is partaking in the five o'clock shadow fundraiser. "We want our officers to buy in and take ownership by taking money out of their pockets in support of this cause."

“You call it facial hair, I call it awesome” said CACRC Executive Director, Maureen “Moe” Sullivan. “The fight against child abuse and success of the Child Advocacy Center relies on a team approach working with law enforcement and other local agencies to protect and support children.” Not only is this campaign an important fundraiser for the CACRC, but it also sparks a sense of community within families, departments, and our county as a whole. “I keep it trimmed, and my wife’s been a trooper, actively working to have people donate to the campaign, but she looks forward to November,” remarked Seabrook’s Sergeant Kevin Gelinea, a participant in last year’s Beard for Bucks. Though the beards may disappear in November, the CACRC hopes that the conversation surrounding child abuse prevention in New Hampshire will remain present in the community.

About Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County - www.cacnh.org

The Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County is an accredited 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a safe space in which to conduct forensic interviews of child abuse victims. By collaborating with law enforcement, child protective services, the county attorney’s office, victim advocates, and medical and mental health services, forensic interviewers at the CACRC are able to reduce trauma experienced by child abuse victims as they move forward on their paths to healing.