Photo provided Bethesda Police Chief Chris Storm is appealing to the public’s generosity to help bring a merry Christmas to area children with the annual Christmas with Cops in Bethesda and Goshen Township.

BETHESDA — Police Chief Chris Storm is counting on the public’s generosity to help bring another merry Christmas to local children.

For several years, Storm has spearheaded a Christmas with Cops event, and he is bringing it to the community again this year.

“We had many generous sponsors and volunteers. Thank you to everyone who donated time, money, toys, talent and skills. We were able to take 10 children shopping in 2022. They and their parents were also treated to delicious food from restaurants in St. Clairsville,” he wrote in a release. “We purchased gifts that were wrapped by the wonderful senior citizens from the Bethesda Senior Center. They volunteered their time to wrap over 750 large and small gifts. Over 90 children in town received gifts for Christmas. We handed out other gifts throughout the year to random children playing in the parks or apartments. A few even invited me to their birthday and graduation ceremonies, making me feel even more appreciated.”

Storm said for Christmas with Cops 2023 he would like to take at least 10 children from the village of Bethesda and Goshen Township on a shopping trip for the holiday. He also hopes to be able to purchase at least four or five gifts for every child in Bethesda and Goshen Township.

“If you have children up to age 18, please sign them up for the drawing,” he said. “All children may sign up for gifts. If you have already won a shopping spree with us, you cannot enter that again.”

Storm said he will need the child’s name, age, gender, mailing address, email and phone number as well as the parents’ or guardians’ names.

“I would still like to include your children if you do not celebrate Christmas,” he wrote in the release. “… If we raise enough, I would like to have Breakfast with Santa Claus and my officers. No child will be left giftless in Bethesda or Goshen Township.”

He said the goal this year is to raise $10,000 to cover all expenses.

“Thank you in advance for your generosity,” he added.

Donations of new, unopened toys can be left at the municipal building in Bethesda. Monetary donations can be left there, or the public can donate through GoFundMe.com.

Storm said to make checks out to the Bethesda Police Department and write “Christmas with Cops 2023” in the memo line.

They should be mailed to the Bethesda Police Department, 112 Main St., P.O. Box 95, Bethesda, OH 43719.