On Tuesday evening, August 6th, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania was bustling with excitement as over a thousand people gathered to celebrate the annual “National Night Out”. The event featured a variety of carnival rides and entertainment activities, as well as delicious food, lively music, and interactions between community members, local police, firefighters, and emergency responders. The festive atmosphere highlighted the event’s aim of fostering community awareness and a sense of security.
According to Matt Peskin, the founder of “National Night Out”, around 1,200 people and 41 vendors participated in the event held in Wynnewood. Peskin expressed great joy in the success of the event, emphasizing the significance of people coming together and interacting with emergency responders. He noted the rapid development of the event over the years.
“National Night Out” was established in 1984 with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice. It is an annual event held on the first Tuesday of August each year, aimed at promoting partnerships between communities and law enforcement, strengthening community connections, and creating safer and more vibrant neighborhoods. Over the past 40 years, the event has partnered with over 17,000 communities, positively impacting the lives of over 38 million Americans, as stated by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Software engineer and Wynnewood resident Steven Mitchell attended the event with his son, marking his fifth year participating. Mitchell described it as a great opportunity for enjoyment, socializing, and exploring what the community had to offer, such as updating their firefighting gear and embracing the festive atmosphere.
Christine Dixon Anderson, Chair of the Minority Relations Committee of Lower Merion Township Police, highlighted the role of the event in promoting interactions between the community and law enforcement. She emphasized that the event helps strengthen community-police relations, resolve issues, assist in officer recruitment, especially among minority groups, and increase community understanding of police departments and other supporting organizations.
Matt McGuire, Deputy Chief of Lower Merion Township Fire Department, emphasized fire safety education as an important component of the event. He stressed the department’s commitment to ensuring the safety of everyone in the community by providing essential safety information and encouraging residents to apply this knowledge in emergency situations.
Since its inception, “National Night Out” has been dedicated to reviving a sense of community awareness that was more common in the past. Peskin reflected on the event’s significance, highlighting the importance of fostering conversations between people and interactions with emergency responders to restore the essence of a community.
Peskin shared a touching anecdote to illustrate the impact of “National Night Out”: “I encountered a situation where two individuals had lived on the same street for 40 years without ever speaking to each other. They met during ‘National Night Out’ and now they’re best friends.”
According to Peskin, this story exemplifies the mission of “National Night Out” – breaking barriers and establishing lasting connections within the community. he emphasized, this is what it’s all about”.