Officers with the Pell City Police Department (PCPD) are usually packing, but not like this.   

PCPD Officers came together to sort various hygiene items, socks, hats, snacks, school supplies, and cups into 60 backpacks to give to local children in need.   

Money for the backpacks and supplies was raised through participation in No Shave November where officers could give an optional voluntary donation of $30 to not shave during November and December. The PCPD raised over $5700 and an anonymous donor stepped in with an additional $5000 in funds.  

“A lot of officers wanted to be involved,” Pell City Police Chief Paul Irwin said. “We wanted to give something to kids who don’t have anything.” 

Irwin said that Officer Thomas Gray, the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Pell City High School, does a lot for teens he sees in need and helped with the idea. Backpacks will be distributed to School Resource Officers throughout the city, as well as local children that are in need. The PCPD will also keep some on-hand for situations where a child must be removed from home.  

“There was a four year old girl, her home was empty…just drugs in it,” Irwin explained. “She didn’t have anything. We want to help kids like her.”