RUMFORD — All but one Rumford police officer is taking part in the department’s No Shave November to raise money for local charities for Christmas.

The department-initiated project and will run from Nov. 1 through Dec. 25, Officer Brad Gallant said Tuesday afternoon. Officers will donate a minimum of $125 to participate in “growing some well-kept, neatly trimmed facial hair,” he said.

Currently, officers can grow a mustache but it cannot be below the lower lip, Sgt. Douglas Maifeld said Tuesday.

The money raised will go to local organizations to assist families needing help this holiday season, Gallant said.

He got the idea from the Bath Police Department, which is doing a No Shave November to raise money for the community. After posting a department notice about it on the Rumford Police Department Facebook site, Bath police responded.

“Many thanks to our brothers in Rumford for helping us to spread the spirit of charity and giving throughout this holiday season,” an officer posted Friday on the Bath department’s Facebook site.

“We encourage all those able to remember those who are struggling, especially over the holidays,” Gallant said.

He said he told Chief Stacy Carter about the idea. Carter, he said, told him, “‘It doesn’t sound like a horrible idea.'”

So Gallant got a half dozen fellow officers on board, returned to the chief and got permission to follow through on the project. He said Carter is also participating.

The department is not collecting any money or donations directly, Gallant and Maifeld stressed.

“We, as a police department, are not allowed to accept money, but we can encourage people to donate to local food banks and organizations like Santa’s Helpers,” Gallant said. “This is a staff-initiated project.”

The Rumford department has never done a No Shave November that Maifeld can remember in his 26 years.

Gallant said the project was started five or six years ago to raise money for cancer research. He hasn’t grown a beard since 2005. Maifeld said he’s never grown one.

“My family is already not impressed,” Maifeld said, running his left hand over four days of brown and gray facial stubble. “If it wasn’t for a good cause, I wouldn’t do it. But it’s nice to give back to the community.”

As part of the project, Rumford police have also challenged officials at Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico, and the following law enforcement agencies in Oxford County to consider participating in something similar: Paris Police Department, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Mexico Police Department, Dixfield Police Department, Norway Police Department, Oxford Police Department and Fryeburg Police Department.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com