GALLIPOLIS — In its fifth year, the Gallipolis Police Department’s Annual Hat Drive raised over $7,000 that will go toward buying gifts less fortunate children this holiday season.

On Saturday, Gallipolis Police Officers were out collecting cash donations in their uniform hats at the Walmart intersections on Eastern Avenue.

According to Lt. Matt Champlin of the Gallipolis Police Department, a total of $7,357 was collected this year during the hat drive.

While many donations were collected by the officers stationed in the roadway on Saturday, included in that total are donations from many generous local businesses.

“We are very grateful to live and work in a community that takes pride in caring for the children of our area the way this community does,” Champlin said. “We would like to thank everyone who took the opportunity to come out and donate on Saturday.”

This year, the donations will again be used by the Gallipolis Lions Club to purchase Christmas gifts for children in the Gallia County area who may otherwise go without.

This marks the fourth year that the police department has teamed up with the Gallipolis Lions Club to provide the outreach to the children of the community.