VSU Police Department Seeks Community Support for National Night Out

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University is looking for community partners interested in making Valdosta and Lowndes County a safer, more caring place to live, learn, work, and play.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, VSU will host National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie in an effort to prevent crime.      

Community businesses, religious organizations, nonprofits, and civic groups interested in participating in National Night Out should contact Sgt. Heidi Bertsch with the VSU Police Department at (229) 333-6024 or hnbertsch@valdosta.edu before 5 p.m. on July 11. All kinds of family friendly activities are welcome. This includes face painting, carnival type games and foods, puppet shows, arts and crafts, storytelling, safety and self-defense demonstrations, and more. Please note that selling will not be permitted at this event.   

National Night Out was first introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit organization designed to provide community watch groups with the necessary resources and assets to stay informed, interested, involved, and motivated. It is celebrated across the United States and its territories, in Canada, and on military bases around the world.

The VSU Police Department, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Valdosta Police Department, Remerton Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Valdosta Fire Department, Lowndes County Fire Rescue, South Georgia Medical Center Mobile Healthcare Services, Rockin’ Roland’s Jumpin’ J’s Inflatables, Target, The Home Depot, Chick-fil-A, AT&T FirstNet, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, VSU Environmental and Occupational Safety, The Porch Community Church, United Saving Animals Rescue Team, BlackPaw K9 Solutions, The Haven, and “Road Dogg” Russell Howard from 92.9 WAAC FM All American Country are already scheduled to attend National Night Out. More community businesses, religious organizations, nonprofits, and civic groups are welcome.  

Area residents interested in meeting their community first responders while enjoying hamburgers and hotdogs, safety demonstrations, activities, music, games, and more are encouraged to mark their calendars and make plans to attend this free event.