-
Kylie Perez, 6, received a plastic firefighter’s helmet from Sparky the fire dog during National Night Out at The Villages at Snyder Tuesday night. -
Pictured dancing are (l-r) Bonnie Jasper, Madelyn Alexander and Scurry County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeanette Pritchard, dressed as Cell Phone Sally, during Tuesday’s National Night Out.
The Villages at Snyder and New Life Alliance hosted National Night Out Tuesday as a way to strengthen the bond between law enforcement and the community.
Miranda Alexander was in charge of the event for the first time and said it was both fun and stressful.
“I just started at New Life about three weeks ago,” Alexander said. “Pretty soon after I started, they told me I was in charge of National Night Out, so I kind of got thrown in, but it’s been good.”
Representatives from the Snyder Police Department, Snyder Fire Department, Scurry County Sheriff’s Office and Scurry County EMS were at The Villages at Snyder Tuesday night for the event, offering information and safety tips.
Alexander said the event is a great opportunity for the community to recognize and show appreciation for local first responders.
“It brings emergency personnel together and it’s a way for us to thank them,” Alexander said.
National Night Out began in 1984 as a way to raise awareness of police programs and promote crime prevention. Although most other states recognize National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August, Texas traditionally holds it on the first Tuesday in October, in order to avoid the August heat.
Tuesday’s event included food, dancing and a bounce house for children. Deputy Fire Marshal Nathan Hines said it offers law enforcement and first responders the chance to connect with members of the community.
“It’s a great outreach,” Hines said. “We not only get to connect with the kids, but we reach the adults, too. We get to see everybody together, with their families. It’s a great way to reach out to the community.”