JACKSON – Law enforcement personnel and emergency responders will bring an evening of family fun in the name of community awareness to Jackson when they host the annual National Night Out event.
National Night Out is hosted by the Jackson Police Department and PBA Local 168 and will take place in the Jackson Plaza shopping center at North County Line and Cook roads from 6-9 p.m. Aug. 2.
According to the National Night Out website, the event was created by the National Association of Town Watch in an effort to “promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.”
National Night Out will include the distribution of child identification kits, a SWAT display, representatives of the Jackson Volunteer First Aid Squad, Quality First Aid, the state Department of Children and Families, the New Jersey State Parole Board, the Jackson Police Explorers and a demonstration of Fatal Vision impairment goggles.
Representatives of Jackson’s fire departments will conduct safety demonstrations, display fire trucks and showcase firefighting equipment. There will be a demonstration of an automatic external defibrillator.
Although the annual event aims to allow residents to meet the men and women who serve their town, officials said National Night Out is also a way for people to meet and mingle with their neighbors.
Free hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available, courtesy of Jackson ShopRite. Live music will be performed throughout the event.
The PBA has contributed inflatable rides, face painting, snow cones and free bicycle raffles. Children will be able to play games for prizes, and drawings for prizes will go on throughout the evening, courtesy of Jackson ShopRite.
Representatives of other community organizations will also be on hand to share information about how residents can become more involved in the community.
Buster, the Lakewood BlueClaws mascot, will be at National Night Out to interact with fans.
