NNO 2013: A Night To Unite

The City is gearing up for yet another fun National Night Out (NNO) -- and we want your neighborhood to join in the festivities.

NNO, called "American's Night Out Against Crime," is a joint effort of local police and communities to organize neighborhoods to fight back against crime. It happens every year on the first Tuesday of August in cities across the country. This year, that's Tuesday, August 6.

In Sanford, NNO was first championed by long-time Council member Walter McNeil, Jr. in 1993, making this our 20th year of participation. The City's goal is to make this year's celebration bigger than ever.

[Click here for a list of frequently asked questions and answers about NNO.]

Stretching NNO Year-Round

While NNO happens only one night each year, the City also participates in Project 365, a program that encourages us to designate a problem in the community that we can tackle as a group over the course of a year to create safer neighborhoods.

This year, we are partnering with the Christians' United Outreach Center to reduce hunger in Sanford and Lee County. For us, a more food-secure community is a safer one, and by working together, we can make that goal a reality.

How it will work: At every event, coordinators will be asked to collect non-perishable food items to donate to the Center. Donations will also be collected at each NNO activity hosted by the City. In return, the CUOC will help keep track of our donations so that we can see what we've accomplished at the end of 365 days.

You can expect to hear more about this as the summer wears on.

First Step: Info Session

The first event in a full summer of activities will be an informational session for site coordinators where we'll get everyone signed up and ready to host an NNO party in August, which includes helping get streets closed, providing items to give away at your event, and more.

Mark your calendar: The meeting will be on Monday, June 24 at 6:30pm in the West End Conference Room of the Sanford Municipal Center at 225 E. Weatherspoon Street.

We encourage anyone interested in hosting an event -- whether it's the first time or the 20th -- to attend. We'll serve finger foods and desserts and give away a few prizes of our own.

Can't make it that night? You can register online using our Google form.

[Click here to download a flyer to share with your friends and co-workers. You can also RSVP via Facebook so we'll know you're coming.]

Questions?

You can direct questions, suggestions, or concerns to Kelly Quinones Miller, the City's public information officer and this year's program manager, at 919-777-1133 or kelly.miller@sanfordnc.net.