A Kick-off event for National Night Out will be held Monday from 6 - 9 p.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention center.
COLUMBIA (WACH) -- The City of Columbia Community Development Department, Columbia Police Department, and Columbia Council of Neighborhoods is hosting the 4th Annual National Night Out kick-off event on Monday from 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
The theme this year is, “Communities…Stomping Out Crime One Block At A Time.”
The annual event was introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), a non profit crime prevention organization, in the mid-west. In that first year, 400 communities from 23 states, including 2.5 million participants. Last years event including 37 million people, and included over 15,000 communities.
Tige Watts from Neighborhoods USA says that the goal of the National Night Out is to build relationships between not only neighbors in a community, but law enforcement and local businesses in an effort to heighten crime and drug prevention, send a message to criminals, and generate support for anticrime programs. Watts said that if communities interested in becoming a part of the annual community celebration can find more information HERE.
The City of Columbia’s kick-off party planned for Monday includes information, entertainment, food, and guest speakers. The event is free to the public, and begins at 6:00 pm at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Lincoln Street. More information about the National Night Out can be found by logging onto the Columbia Neighborhoods website.
Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott said, “It is a distinct privilege to be a part of such a valuable kick-off event. The Police Department has been partnering with the City and various neighborhoods for several years for National Night Out activities. Communities will not tolerate the violence that comes with crime. We will continue to stand beside citizens as they take a stand against all criminal activity.”
Harvest Hope Food Bank will have bins available for people to donate canned goods and nonperishable items to those in need. Neighborhoods in Columbia, as well as neighborhoods in other cities in the state will also participate in National Night Out events on Tuesday.
Do you plan on taking part in any National Night Out activities?
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