GREENFIELD — One of the county’s more popular end-of-summer events for students and families — during which parents can get free backpacks with school supplies for their children — will welcome the public next week.
The annual Community Night is slated from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. The activities are designed to give school supplies to families; encourage engagement with first-responders; and distribute educational information for living a healthy life.
This year, organizers are making things a little easier for parents who don’t get off work until after 5 p.m. They’re allowing parents to register for a backpack online to make sure one is reserved until a parent can come and pick it up the night of the event. Parents don’t have to register to get a child a backpack, but doing so guarantees organizers will hold a backpack for them.
Parents can register backpacks by visiting www.eventbrite.com/e/149384712697.
Last year, organizers gave out 750 backpacks within 90 minutes during a drive-through event. This year, they’re planning to distribute about 1,300 backpacks.
Brian Lott, Greenfield Fire Territory chief, is one of the organizers for Community Night. He said this year’s event will be similar to the one held in 2019, which attracted thousands of people. They’ll be handing out tickets for free food and snow cones. Thirty not-for-profits will be on hand passing out information and supplies for kids. Demonstrations from first-responders will take place throughout the evening. The county’s SWAT team will have equipment on display.
“Pretty much all our county public safety and fire departments will be participating again,” Lott said.
That includes officials from the Greenfield Police Department.
Capt. Chuck McMichael, public information officer for GPD, said several officers will be on hand. The event is a good chance for the community to interact with police officers.
Healthy 360 donated $1,500 to local farmers, who will be handing out fresh vegetables for free to patrons for as long as supplies last. This year, the booths will be set up in the exhibition hall instead of under the pavilion to give patrons more space to move around.
“We want to help contribute to healthier eating and help a few farmers out,” Lott said of the addition of fresh vegetables.
Lott believes the night is important and helps get children headed to school soon acquire needed supplies. Lott and other first-responders also like the interaction with the community.
“We love to see the citizens and both police and fire all together so they can better understand what we do,” Lott said. “Now more than anything for our police officers, it’s a good time for them to interact with the public.”
Officials with Hancock County Regional Hospital are offering free car seat checks, and they will have booster seats and car seats on hand for families who need them.
“There are just a lot of opportunities and resources for families coming up at the event,” Lott said.
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Hancock County Community Night 2021:
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 21,
Where: Hancock County Fairgrounds, 620 Apple St., Greenfield.
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Hancock County Community Night sponsors:
Hancock County Sherriff Department, Greenfield Police Department, Zig Zag, Hancock Hope House, NineStar Connect, Bethel Baptist Church, Hancock County DARE, Smithfield Foods, Healthy365, Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse.
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