On Tuesday evening, several Schuylkill County communities celebrated National Night Out.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie that takes place the first Tuesday or August.Every community celebrates the event a different way and this year that was no different.
In Schuylkill County, the communities of Frackville, Girardville, Pottsville, Orwigsburg, and Coaldale all held events.
We stops in Frackville and Girardville this year where the community really came out to take part.
Frackville's event was held at Memorial Park and Pool. Swimming was free for the evening and first responders brought their equipment for families to explore. The Frackville Police brought out a patrol vehicle and was handing out goodie bags.
The fire companies of Goodwill, Englewood, and Altamont brought their apparatus and Lehigh Valley Health Network's Medevac landing on the football field where kids learned and climbed into the helicopter.
The borough's non-profits from the Rotary and Elks also participated.
Frackville Mayor's Kim Phillips attended.
In Girardville, the event was held at the Ranger's Hose Company where they were joined by the Girard Hose Company, Girardville Police, Girardville Road Crew, Ashland's Washington Ambulance, and Ashland Boys Scouts. Girardville Mayor Judith Mehlbaum also attended.
The family event tasked kids to visit 9 stations that included visits with all the attendees as well as a badge design station, fire safety trailer, turn out gear station, and obstacle course.
Once kids completed their tasks, they received a treat as well as a box of juice boxes to take home with them.
"National Night Out is a great event where we can meet and interact with the community in a non-emergency environment, learn, and have fun" Girardville Fire Chief Frank Zangari said.
