In December of 2008, the Gallipolis Police Department began a program to give back to the children of Gallia County during one of the most important times of year. The officers of the Gallipolis Police Department began a Christmas project which has become a major success story and that project is the “Hat Drive.”
During the Hat Drive, the officers of the Gallipolis Police Department are in the roadway on State Route 7 at the Smithers Avenue intersection (near the Gallipolis Wal Mart) collecting cash donations in their uniform hats. The Hat Drive is done on the same Saturday as the annual Christmas parade in Gallipolis and it takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The money raised during the Hat Drive is then used in cooperation with the Gallipolis Lions Club to purchase Christmas gifts for children from all over Gallia County who would, without this project, most likely go without anything during the holiday season.
The Gallipolis Police Department has been teamed up with the Gallipolis Lions Club since 2009 and the project culminates with the two organizations buying the gifts for the children. The gifts are then distributed to the children by Santa Claus at a Christmas dinner sponsored by the Gallipolis Lions Club.
Anyone who would like to make a donation to the annual Hat Drive can do so by mailing it to:
Gallipolis Police Department
P.O. Box 339
518 Second Avenue
Gallipolis, Ohio 45631
Please mark the envelope “HAT DRIVE”