Colleton’s finest gear up for National Night Out

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By Vicki Brown

Colleton County First Responders and law enforcement officers are coordinating a free National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Walterboro.
Located at 124 S. Memorial Avenue, the event offers music, fun and food, and a chance for the public to meet the men and women who keep us safe.
The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, Walterboro Police Department, SLED, SCDNR, Walterboro Fire Department, the S.C. Highway Patrol, and S.C. National Guard plan to participate in the event. Most of these agencies are also sponsoring some of the games and food.
Organizers have planned a bounce house, DJ, dunking booth, face painting, first responder meet and greet, superhero meet and greet, crime prevention information, inflatable archery range, emergency vehicles on display, free food, and more. There will also be hiring information for job seekers interested in a career as a first responder.
It will be a memorable evening for adults and children.
The National Night Out campaign is held across the United States annually and promotes First Responder-community partnerships with the community to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. It also brings attention to programs like Drug prevention, Town watch, Neighborhood watch, Dog Walk Watch, Crime Stoppers, and Tip Hotlines.
Millions of neighbors participate in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August (Texas and select areas celebrate on the first Tuesday in October).
Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits, and much more.
According to National Night Out organizers, the event was introduced in August 1984 through a network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations, and volunteers across the nation.
The first annual National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states.
 “This event is meant to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, neighborhood watch, and other anti-crime efforts.  In addition, it's about communities and law enforcement coming together,” said Colleton Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Shalane Lowes.