On the evening of Tuesday, August 2, 2016, people across the country will lock their doors, turn on their outside lights, and go outside to spend time with neighbors, police, and other community members.
Held on the first Tuesday of August every year, National Night Out focuses on crime prevention awareness and uniting our communities. National Night Out was founded in 1981 by the National Association of Town Watches.
National Night Out is free and many police departments take registrations from neighborhoods so that officers can visit participating groups. If you register with the National Association of Town Watches, they will send you an organizational kit to help you plan an event in your neighborhood. Some possible events for your neighborhood are block parties, cookouts, ice cream socials, or events in a local park.
National Night Out 2016 “will involve over 16,728 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, over 38.3 million people are expected to participate in ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime’.” (City of St. Cloud)
If you want to get to know your neighbors better, increase your sense of community, and get to know police in a positive environment, head outside on Tuesday night.