Cleveland-area residents gathered on Thursday evening, Sept. 26, at First Baptist Church of Cleveland, located at 300 W. Hanson St., to celebrate National Night Out. The event, organized this year by the Liberty County Pct. 6 Constable’s Office, aimed to strengthen bonds between local residents, law enforcement, and first responders.
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual event observed across the United States to promote community unity and neighborhood safety. It provides an opportunity for residents to engage with law enforcement and public officials in an informal, positive setting while working together to foster a safer and more welcoming environment.
“National Night Out offers the community an opportunity to engage with local first responders in a friendly and informal setting,” said Pct. 6 Constable Zack Harkness.
The event featured appearances by Liberty County District Attorney Jennifer Bergman, Pct. 3 Commissioner David Whitmire, Cleveland Police Chief Darrel Broussard, CISD Board Trustee Bethany Porter, Cleveland City Councilwoman Rachel Hall, and many more.
Booths were set up by various local organizations and businesses, including First Baptist Church of Cleveland, First Liberty Bank, the Liberty County District Attorney’s Office, and Councilwoman Hall. Each booth offered games, activities, or treats for attendees, adding to the festive atmosphere. Hot dogs, elotes, and ice-cold water were all part of the menu. Residents were seen chatting and bonding with local first responders.
“Our goal was to ensure that the event catered to families by providing a variety of activities for children. To achieve this, we asked each vendor to offer a game, activity, or craft that would appeal to kids of all ages,” said Harkness. “By creating a fun, safe, and welcoming atmosphere, we wanted to host an event that the entire community could look forward to each year. We were pleased with the turnout and are planning to make next year’s event even better.”
District Attorney Jennifer Bergman also expressed her gratitude for the community’s participation and support.
“We are so grateful to everyone who came out and participated in this year’s National Night Out. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the businesses, organizations, individuals, and especially our dedicated law enforcement officers and first responders for their incredible involvement and commitment to making our community stronger,” Bergman said.
“It was an honor for the District Attorney’s Office to be part of this event, and we look forward to making it an even bigger event next year. Lastly, we would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Cleveland’s First Baptist Church for graciously hosting us and allowing the community to utilize your facilities. It was truly the support and hard work of everyone involved that made this event a true success,” she added.