ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Marblehead Police officer Andrew Clark is participating in the “No Shave” challenge.
By THOMAS GRILLO
MARBLEHEAD — Andrew Clark hasn’t shaved since Halloween and he doesn’t plan to take a razor to his face until December.
The hiatus is evidenced by the Marblehead police officer’s scruffy gray and black partial beard. But it’s all for a good cause.
The department took the “No Shave” challenge to benefit Merry Mixers and its mission to raise funds for Massachusetts General Hospital for Children at North Shore Medical Center’s Family Resource Center in Salem.
About half of the 28-member force has taken the pledge not to shave and contribute to the charity. Participating officers pay a fee to participate, and the police union will match their contributions.
“It’s a good opportunity to raise money for a good cause,” said Clark. “We’re not allowed to have facial hair so this is my time. My wife loves it because this is how I looked when we met.”
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The department hopes to raise more than $2,000 for the Marblehead-based nonprofit that provides funds for critical programs at the hospital.
Money raised will support the Resource Center, which provides services for families dealing with psychological, emotional and physical health issues, from opiate addiction to coping with terminal illness.
Detective Sgt. Sean Brady, who participated last year to benefit Spur, the Marblehead nonprofit whose mission is to inspire good deeds and provide volunteer experiences, said it’s a great opportunity to benefit Merry Mixers.
“They are a very prominent charity in Marblehead and we are hoping to meet or exceed what we raised last year,” he said.
Robert Picariello, chief, is not letting his beard grow because he has several events this week including the swearing in of Essex Superior Court Judge David Lowy, a Marblehead resident, to the Supreme Judicial Court.
“The charity is focused on kids and anything we can do to give back to the community, we’re in,” he said. “Our department is passionate about protecting the safety of our community and the Family Resource Center’s efforts for local kids is closely aligned with many of the issues we face every day.”
Merry Mixers was founded in 1965 by Marblehead moms to support the hospital that serves children.
More than $1 million has been raised and donated since inception, with $88,000 donated in 2015 alone during the organization’s 65th anniversary year.
Thomas Grillo can be reached at [email protected].