BETHESDA — Police Chief Christopher Storm is asking the public to help make his Christmas wish come true.

Storm wants just one thing – to bring a merry Christmas to children throughout Bethesda and all of Goshen Township. He can’t do that, though, without some additional support.

For several weeks, Storm has been working to raise money to take several area children on a holiday shopping trip. He also hopes to purchase four to five gifts for every child in Bethesda and Goshen Township.

He set a fundraising goal of $5,000 but had only received $600 as of last week. A few toys also have been donated to the cause, but Storm feels he will not have enough resources to provide for all local children in need.

“I do not want the children who truly deserve a Christmas to be disappointed,” he wrote in a Facebook message.

Storm is planning the shopping spree for Dec. 15, so time to donate is running short. People who want to contribute can either make a donation through a GoFundMe account that he set up, or they can take or send donations of money or gifts to the Bethesda Police Department, 112 Main St., P.O. Box 95, Bethesda, OH 43719. Anyone who writes a check should note “Christmas with Cops” on the memo line.

To donate online, visit gofundme.com/f/christmas-with-cops-2024-for-local-children.

Storm asks that donations of new, unopened toys for Christmas be delivered by Dec. 13 so there will be time to wrap them; however, the department accepts such contributions year round to give away at other events, such as community picnics.

If restaurants and other businesses donate food, participating children and their parents will be fed at the Dec. 15 event.

It isn’t just Storm and his fellow officers who get involved in the effort. In years past, he said, seniors visiting the Bethesda Senior Center pitched in and wrapped more than 500 large and small gifts, making it a true community effort.

As a result, more than 70 children in the village received gifts last year.

This year, Storm has high hopes of making things even bigger and better. In addition to the shopping trip and gift distribution, if enough money is contributed he will organize a breakfast with Santa, the Grinch and police officers.

Participation isn’t limited to families who celebrate Christmas. Parents can register any child up to age 18 for the drawing to take part in the shopping trip. Only those who previously won a shopping spree are ineligible for the drawing.

All children, regardless of past participation, can register for gifts.

“No child will be left giftless in Bethesda or Goshen Township,” Storm wrote in his GoFundMe appeal.

To register your child, provide the police department their name, gender, age, mailing address, an email address and phone number, and the name of a parent or guardian.