HANCOCK COUNTY — Organizers of the annual Hancock County Community Night want to make sure area children and their families are ready to head back to school, and they’re not letting COVID-19 stop them.
This year’s event — in which first-responders meet and greet area residents and hand out school supplies along with positive messages — will go on as scheduled, just in a slightly different way.
Community Night will take place as scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 22 at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, but in a drive-through format.
Those attending are being asked to enter the Fairgrounds from Park Avenue, then follow the directions while staying in their vehicles as they travel through the grounds.
Visitors will receive school backpacks filled with supplies; organizers were able to purchase nearly $12,000 in school supplies thanks to donations from many supporters, including Hancock Health, local law enforcement, Neighbors Against Substance Abuse, Greenfield Rotary and others.
Families taking part will be given one backpack per child, and the child must be present to get the school supplies. Those attending will be able see demonstrations along the route while maintaining social distancing.
"There was some talk about canceling it this year like everything else, but, we wanted to have some community outreach time and still get the kids what they need," said Amy West of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, an event organizer.
With the leadership of Greenfield Fire Territory fire marshal Brian Lott, West said, the organizers were determined to find a way to make the event happen and settled on a drive-through format, which has worked well with dozens of other events in the age of COVID-19, from birthday parties to graduation celebrations.
"We wanted to get it done the safest way we could, and we think that’s what we’ve done," West said.
"We checked with area teachers to find out what were some of the best supplies the kids will need," Lott said.
People driving through the fairgrounds can turn their radios to 1610 AM hear safety messages. Lott said organizers are expecting a few walk-up visitors from the nearby neighborhoods; they will be welcomed, but patrons who have vehicles must drive through.
"It won’t be the same kind of event we had last year, but it will still be a good night," Lott said.
Organizers wanted to maintain some sense of normalcy with the community with events such as the Hancock County 4-H Fair being closed to the public this year.
Organizers have been mindful, making sure some of the 2,000 backpacks will be filled with school supplies for traditional classes while others will be contain supplies for virtual learning, such as ear buds and white boards.
"We’ll also have all our not-for-profit groups out there handing out information for the community too," West said.
Lieutenant C.W. Murnan represented the Greenfield Police Department in helping organize the event. He noted that while it will be disappointing for first-responders to not be able to mingle with visitors as they’ve done in the past, holding a drive-through event will still be a positive experience.
"With the whole COVID thing, we know there are families that are struggling more now than last year," Murnan said. "Obviously, things will be altered, but we are still reaching out as best we can."
That’s the part organizers like best about Community Night: showing residents they are there for them during trying times.
People attending Community Night can expect to see some demonstrations along the route with large apparatus; SWAT and bike demonstrations; and maybe even an appearance from a K-9 or two.
"We want to have a little more interaction than just a drive-through," West said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What: Hancock County Community Night
When: Wednesday, July 22
Where: Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
New procedures: Drive-through event. One backpack filled with school supplies per child, who must be in the vehicle.
Enter: Park Avenue on the north side of the Fairgrounds.
Exit: Apple Street after following route through the fairgrounds, which will be lined with demonstrations.
Tune your car radio: 1610 am to hear messages about the demonstrations.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
