(KNZA)--On Tuesday, August 1st,  neighborhoods throughout Hiawatha are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “34th Annual National Night Out” crime and drug prevention event.

National Night Out will involve over 11,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world.

National Night Out is designed to: (1) heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

For the 23rd year, the Hiawatha Police Department will sponsor the National Night Out.

Agencies will set up displays in the Schuneman Addition at the Fisher Center on East Iowa Street from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. These include the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Squad 48, Town and Country Ambulance, and Hiawatha Fire Department.

Sonic will provide the hot dogs and water, Seneca Wholesale will provide the soda, Nigus retail will provide the ice, Hiawatha Farm and Home will provide the ice tank, and Wal-Mart and Citizens State Bank will assist in providing the paper goods, buns, chips, and condiments.

From 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. a pool party will be held at the Hiawatha Aquatic Park at no charge.

“We are extremely grateful for all of our sponsors and guests, we could not do this without all of them”, said Police Chief John Defore.

Defore says the National Night Out program is an outstanding campaign to help build neighborhood unity and strengthen police-community partnerships. On August 1st, he says everyone is invited to join forces to give crime and drugs a going away party. For more information, contact the Hiawatha Police Department at 742-2156.