At Newton Police Department, Mustaches Are In

NEWTON, MA — If it seems like Newton Police officers are getting a little scruffy this month, they are. During the month of November, 37 Newton Police Officers will be growing beards to raise money for the Home Base Program, a program that works to raise awareness and give care to military veterans and families suffering from invisible war wounds such as PTSD.

MBTA Officer Kurt Powers, an Army Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Home Base patient started the No Shave November fundraiser to support the Home Base program in 2015 as a way to honor his fallen brothers. The idea is that police, firefighters, corrections officers and EMTs are encouraged to forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation, raise awareness and break the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress and other invisible wounds of war.

Some 37 Newton Police officers have pledged $100 dollars and will grow some facial hair - plus a few extra officers are donating for a grand total of $3,900 coming from the department — to the Home Base Program.

In 2016, more than 21 local Police Departments participated and raised more than $50,000. The money donated will support Home Base’s mission to help Veterans and Families heal from the invisible wounds, such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, according to Newton Community Outreach Officer Brett Ferolito.

This is the first year that Newton is participating. "Newton Officers became aware of the fundraiser last year when other local departments began participating," said Ferolito. "This fall we reached out to Transit Police Officer Kurt Powers and the Home Base Program in order to get involved with the growing fundraiser."

Home Base itself was founded by the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital in 2009, with the aim to be a model partnership of academic medicine and Major League Baseball in service to Military Veterans—and their Families. The program's clinicians are part of Massachusetts General Hospital. They are civilian caregivers, but they are experienced in caring for Veterans and Families.

For more info: or to donate

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