QPD officers growing beards to raise money for groceries to be given away Wednesday for Thanksgiving meal

QUINCY — The Quincy Police Department is participating in its “Beard for a Benefit” campaign to raise money for local families in need.

During November and December, officers can pay one dollar a day – or $60 – and grow facial hair, which normally is not permitted by QPD grooming standards. The money raised will support the Quincy Police Department’s Thanksgiving week food drive and distribution, an annual event since 2017.

Because not all families can easily access the services of local food pantries, the Quincy Police Department has raised funds to buy groceries to be distributed in various locations. Each bag of groceries will include items that will help complete a Thanksgiving meal — green beans, corn, stuffing, potatoes, sweet potatoes, marshmallows, pumpkin pie filling, pie crust and a packet of gravy.

The Quincy Police Department will distribute 200 bags of groceries on Wednesday, Nov. 23. Officers will be at:

• The Quincy Housing Authority’s Indian Hills parking lot, Sixth and Harrison, at 11 a.m.
• The Frederick Ball parking lot, Eighth and Elm, at noon.
• The north parking lot of Lampe Hi-Rise, 527 Broadway, at 1 p.m.

Any family who could use a little extra help this Thanksgiving can stop by one of these locations and pick up a bag – while supplies last.

“The Quincy community has been so supportive of our police department,” Adam Yates, chief of the Quincy Police Department, said in a press release. “This is one way we can say ‘Thank you’ and give back to our amazing citizens.”

The Quincy Police Department thanks Broadway Hy-Vee, Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Vancil Performing Arts Center, We in Quincy, IL, Back the Blue, Denman Medical, the Quincy Housing Authority and the men and women of the Quincy Police Department who donated money and/or time.