JACKSON — On August 2, Jackson will join cities in New Jersey and across the country in a celebration of community at the annual “National Night Out,” America’s night against crime.
“It’s about building community,” said Capt. Mary Nelson, who coordinates the event for the Jackson Police Department.
National Night will be from 6-9 p.m. on August 2 at the Jackson Shopping Plaza (ShopRite) on the North County Line and Cook routes.
Sponsored by Jackson PBA 168, the event’s goal is to strengthen the neighborhood
cohesion and promotion of partnerships between police and first responders and
the community.
“It’s usually community organizations,” Nelson said. “We have churches [taking part]we have a pre-kindergarten, the Jackson Library, Cub, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the municipal alliance, the Moms Club of Jackson, our Moose Lodge, our Elks Lodge.
“In addition, Fire Stations 54, 55 and 56, Jackson Volunteer First Aid, US Coast Guard Auxiliary will be there. Most (groups) set up a table and hand out informative leaflets.
“ShopRite is our primary sponsor,” she said, and the company sponsors all food, hot dogs, chips, drinks, ice cream. Kiwanis Club members will serve the food.
“Six Flags Great Adventure is sponsoring a lot of giveaways because we’re going to have
games for children to play. The Jackson PBA also sponsors many awards.
“We are going to have child identification kiosks, motorcycle, ATV and bicycle units will be
all be out there,” Nelson said. “School resource officers will do activities with
the children.
“We will have a SWAT screen, the special intervention team will have a table, there will be
be police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and inflatable rides, plus games and prizes
for kids. We receive a large crowd.
Representatives from Jackson’s fire companies will perform safety demonstrations and emergency response demonstrations.
“Our community groups like Helping Hands, the Office of Emergency Management and Clean Communities will be there. Jackson’s Chabad will be there. KAVA Coffee House will bring us kosher treats.
“We’re going to have bouncy houses, carnival games and a dunk tank with a
policeman. It’s going to be a great night,” Nelson said. “We are going to have a
DJ and music. We do giveaways where anyone can get a ticket to participate.
According to the natw.org website, “National Night Out is an annual community-
building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and
camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer and better places to live.
Jackson’s event has grown far beyond its original scale, according to Nelson.
“We get a huge crowd. This national night started very small many years ago and retired police captain John Convery made it into this fantastic event.
“He was the commander of the police department’s support services division and this event meant so much to him. He really created it and made it what it is today.
“It’s my first year doing it, but he’s really just given me a job that’s already been done.
together and I just contacted everyone. I still have work to do, but it really
made it what it is, such a great thing that he left us and the township. He wanted it
keep going,” Nelson said.
