One Moment, Please… National Night Out Successes

On Tuesday, August 4, I had the pleasure of working alongside my fellow Fountain Fire Department firefighters serving burgers, hot dogs, chips, brownies and water to anyone who showed up to chat.

This being the first time we had coordinated an event like this, we didn’t know what to expect for participants. We were fortunate to have an officer from Preston Police and two members of Preston/Lanesboro Ambulance service present to showcase vehicles and equipment. We were also fortunate to have all of our food come from Preston Foods, which made for an easy process.  People especially loved the brownies.  And, thanks to Cory Mulhern for providing the tables with bench seats. We were able to handle roughly 100 people at a time, and the seats were full throughout the two-hour event. We also gave away prizes like fire extinguishers and smoke/CO2 detectors during a drawing, provided by NAPA in Preston.

What’s great about this event is that it brings people together like a neighborhood block party.  Neighbors spend time chatting and catching up. Parents brought their kids, and the kids got a chance to see all of the emergency response vehicles.  I know we had some kids who enjoyed the lights and sirens. Maybe we’ll pick up some future emergency responders down the road, which will always be vital to our rural communities.

This was the first time the Fountain Fire Department had hosted an event like this, and the response was encouraging.

There have been many communities coordinating this same type of event year after year, with Greenleafton hosting their National Night Out for more than 20 years.  From my understanding, the Greenleafton Reformed Church was the first one to get the ball rolling in this area, so they have continuously stepped up their game. I wasn’t able to attend their event, but I know they had free food, mega foam blasters, slip and slide, face painting, volleyball, bean bags and more – based on the advertisement they ran in the newspaper leading up to the event.

In general, I think these types of events are fantastic for community outreach.

Police Departments

Back when I was a kid, police officers would wave down kids while walking home from school and hand out Minnesota Vikings football cards. I remember collecting quite a few over the years.  It was great public relations for police officers, making them more approachable in the community.  I see our local law enforcement participating in job fairs at high schools, Bluff Country Heroes, Shop with a Cop, D.A.R.E., and National Night Out – to name a few.  All great ways to connect with the people they serve.

Ambulance Service

The local ambulance service in every community is struggling to find volunteers. From my chat with two EMS representatives with Preston/Lanesboro, they only have about 40 people covering their area. This has been a common challenge throughout all of our rural communities.  If you’ve ever thought about volunteering for anything, your local ambulance service would welcome your help. Our local ambulance volunteers play a critical role that can mean the difference between life and death.

Fire Departments

My grandfather, Bob Sethre, served on the Preston Fire Department back in the 1950s and 1960s, when there were many more house fires than we see today. In recent years, there seem to be more calls for vehicle accidents than in the past.  The demands for equipment and gear have evolved over the years, which comes at a cost. October is Fire Safety Month, which means many fire departments will be sending out fundraising letters.  Your support will be greatly appreciated to provide the best protection service possible.