National Night Out 2019 draws large crowd in Manning
Clarendon County's 2019 National Night Out was a huge success with the children as well as the adults. Bouncy houses, free school supplies, lots of great food including ice cream and snow cones and dozens of law enforcement officers reaching out to the children in the county made this year's event a stellar occasion.
Clarendon County's 2019 National Night Out was a huge success with the children as well as the adults. Bouncy houses, free school supplies, lots of great food including ice cream and snow cones and dozens of law enforcement officers reaching out to the children in the county made this year's event a stellar occasion.
Dozens of state and local law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and representatives with several health organizations were on hand at Tuesday's National Night Out. Free school supplies, information and delicious food were handed out to the hundreds of children who attended the event which was held at the J.C. Britton Park on Raccoon Road.
MANNING - It takes more than a few raindrops to put a damper on the 2019 National Night Out in Clarendon County.
"We had a big crowd this year," said Constable Lawrence Hammett with the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office and chairman of the 2019 National Night Out committee. "The crowd was beautiful, and they didn't let the rain bother them at all."
The sudden afternoon rain clouds may have slowed the celebration down a little, but by no means did it put a stop to the activities that were focused on bringing law enforcement and public safety personnel together with their local communities especially the children.
Hundreds of children and adults packed J.C. Britton Park, 3057 Raccoon Road, for this year's event that featured free food and games, bouncy houses, free school supplies and free "stuff" from the various agencies and organizations.
Officers with the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office, Clarendon County Detention Center, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Manning and Summerton police departments, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Clarendon County Fire Department and Clarendon County EMS along with representatives from a variety of health care organizations were on hand to visit with the children and hand out free school supplies, food and giveaways.
A special drawing was held to give away a bicycle that was donated to NNO from BCA Kent International in Manning.
"I want to thank all of the very generous donations that were made from local businesses and individuals as well as several individuals from out of state," Hammett added. "I also want to thank all the volunteers who served the food and a special thanks to Capt. Cheryl Pendergrass with the detention center and Soldier Boy, who was our deejay."
Hammett said the huge showing of law enforcement, firefighters and public safety personnel helped make this year's event so successful.
"This is what National Night Out is all about," he added. "Bringing everyone together in a fun and festive atmosphere."