National Night Out set for Friday

courtesy photo

The Hammonton community has another opportunity, as the summer season winds down, to go out on the town and spend time with each other.

Hammonton’s 10th annual National Night Out will take place Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at Hammonton High School.

National Night Out is a free, nationwide event that enhances the relationship between the community and law enforcement. Instead of the law enforcement being on the job during the event, community members will see a more laid-back side from these departments.

Popular aspects of the event usually include vendors giving out freebies. Hammonton’s event will also provide fireworks, tug-of-war and even a 5K race.

“The event entails a family, friendly atmosphere, opening of the lines of communication between our police department and emergency responders with the community,” longtime Hammonton volunteer Mary Young said.

“I think if everybody comes out or the community comes out to the event, they’ll have an opportunity to meet a lot of the officers, interact with the officers and to know them in a less-serious situation,” Lieutenant Sam Angello said. “[We] would just be walking around, conversing, not in a situation where we’re actually doing police work.”

One way Angello hopes the community and law enforcement connect is by being able to have a conversation during the informal event.

“As far as the relationship with the community and the police officers, I mean, that’s kind of one of the bigger things that we’re targeting,” Angello said.

Besides the connection with the law enforcement, guests will have the opportunity to experience other great features of the event, like fireworks to end the night.

“We have our normal usual fireworks, there’s also going to be a tug-of-war contest. And then we’ll have food trucks and local vendors that are participating from our community for food,” Hammonton Family Success Center Director Patricia Donio said. “And it’s a night where everybody can come out and hang out and visit lots of table vendors that are going to have plenty of resources for families to check out a lot of freebies.”

DonutNV from Egg Harbor City is just one of the many vendors set to attend the evening, giving the community a sweet treat as they enjoy other activities.

Something guests will have the opportunity to participate in is the Hammonton National Night Out 5K race. The registration fee is $25 with an additional optional cost for the race T-shirt.

Special pricing is also available for law enforcement, military, first responders, school staff and students. For those not necessarily interested in racing but want to participate, there is also a one-mile fun walk.

The race lasts for an hour beginning at 6 p.m. and ends with awards in overall winners, top law enforcement finishers and top three finishers in a 10-year-old age category.

Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.

Though the event benefits the law enforcement’s relationship with the town, it also benefits the community.

“Doing the event for 10 years I feel it’s important to the community, allowing them to meet our new officers and putting a friendly face for the youth in our community to reach out to officers if they need them,” Young said.