Mothers Lacretia Ivy and Sharon Davis brought their three preschool children and Davis' two nieces to have fun and socialize Tuesday at Franklin Heights' National Night Out.
That's exactly what organizers wanted for parents and children attending the annual celebration on January Street and five other locations throughout the city. National Night Out brings communities together to have fun and socialize while combatting crime and drugs.
The event was sponsored by Murfreesboro Police and Fire departments and Murfreesboro Housing Authority.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS
Latavius Ivy, 5, liked being fingerprinted by Natalie Hughes of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. Davis' children, Angel, 3, and Cameron, 1, and her nieces Christal, 4, and Charity, 3, waited in line with their painted faces.
The children petted animals and spent some energy at the jumping gym inflatable toy.
"We really appreciate them doing this for the kids," Ivy said.
Although the temperature hovered in the mid-90s, the kids didn't seem to mind.
"They like stuff like this," Davis said.
Her mother, Verneva Davis of Nashville, described the event as a small carnival.
Like the younger kids, Sasha Wyatt, 11, walked around with an "S" painted on her face. She enjoyed petting the horses and eating hot dogs and ice cream.
"I think it's to celebrate," Sasha said.
Solomon Green thought the event was to fight drugs. He enjoyed the Dr. Pepper and ice cream.
DeCarlos Johnson, 8, made his own necklace and cooled off with ice cream.
Murfreesboro Police Officer Jacoby O'Gwynn, with help from Officer Sam Day, and Connie Middleton, the Murfreesboro City Schools' Family Resource Center coordinator, organized the Franklin Heights event.
Officers assigned to the Community Oriented Policing Services group distributed more than 1,000 flyers in the community to let people know about the event.
National Night Out helps a community bond and come together to fight crime, O'Gwynn said.
"I don't want them to always see police in a negative manner," O'Gwynn said. "I like to see police do things in a postive manner."
Day said the event "gives us a chance to talk to people in the neighborhood. They can see us other than writing tickets and taking people to jail."
Middleton said the theme was "parent and child together." Many of the events focused on the parent and the child spending time together playing games and making crafts. Lowe's brought toys for the parents and children to build together.
"We really feel in this day and age, parents and children need to bond," Middleton said. "Once they bond, they will be better."
Contributing sponsors included Sysco Foods, Fortner Foods, Lowe's, On Target, Haynes Brothers, The Learning Circle, Golden Flake, Kroger, Purity Dairy and Dr. Pepper of McMinnville.
Groups providing events included Cliff Sharp of Greenhouse Ministries, the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services, Read to Succeed, Linebaugh Library Bookmobile, United Way, the Family Resource Center, Bethel United Methodist Church, Daughters of God Outreach Ministry, Second Chance Ministries, Rutherford County Health Department, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Murfreesboro City Schools' Extended School Program and Born Again Technology.
|
Email
Print
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!