The Elizabethton Housing and Development Agency is bringing a national community-building event to its grounds 2-4 p.m. Tuesday.
Housing and Development Agency Director Kelly Geagley prefers to call it a block party.
“We try to have something here for everybody,” he said. “It’s not just for kids; it’s for adults, too.”
The theme of the event is “Running Crime Out of the Community,” Geagley said.
All the events throughout the nation aim to bridge gaps between the public and police departments.
“We take this time to remind people that we have a substation officer assigned here,” Geagley said. “We like to get the police and community together.”
School supplies will be handed out to children during the event.
“We go by the lists they provide at Wal-Mart, and we just try to get as much as we can,” Geagley said. “We’ll have paper, pens, pencils, and many people donate backpacks to us.”
Star the Clown will have a face painting booth and will provide balloon sculptures.
A cake walk, bingo and prizes also will be a part of the festivities.
The event is made possible through a partnership with the EHDA and the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library, Carter County UT Extension Agency, Access Wireless as well as several other organizations who will have booths set up at the event.
According to the website, National Night Out aims to eliminate any financial barriers of participation in the event.
“That has always been our commitment, but, in today’s difficult economy, it’s worth highlighting,” the website states. “We’re thoughtful about how every dollar is spent, working year-round to help city governments, police departments and grassroots organizers make their National Night Out events successful and their community a better, safer place to live.”
For more information, go online to natw.org or call EHDA at 543-3571.