The Pella Police Department is partnering with the Pella Fire Department and local businesses to bring back the Holiday Heroes program this holiday season. Lt. Paul Haase says officers are working with the Pella Walmart, Welgaard, and Pella and Pella Christian schools to make Christmas a little bit brighter for local children.

Haase says due to COVID-19, the in person event they had planned this year will instead have families selected by local school counselors send their lists to the police department, who will shop and drop off the gifts in December.

Donations are being accepted to fund the shopping trips and more for the 4th annual Holiday Heroes program, and can be dropped off at the Pella Police Department through their officers association.

As part of the effort, Pella Police Officers may look a little different during this month as they grow beards to raise funds for a good cause. Participating officers have donated money to the “Holiday Heroes” program in order to participate in “No-Shave November”. Officers of the department are not normally allowed to grow facial hair, but the department has loosened up the policy restrictions for officers to give back to their community while having fun.