Central Park packed for National Night Out

The MercyOne AirMed helicopter made a stop at Tuesday’s “National Night Out” hosted by the Charles City Police Department. (Press photo James Grob.)

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The MercyOne Air Med helicopter was the highlight of the evening, as it swooped from the sky and touched down in the parking lot just alongside Central Park in Charles City. Kids were allowed inside to have a close-up look.

It was all part of National Night Out in Charles City on Tuesday, an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships.

Community Resource Officer Duane Ollendiek said there was a great turnout and the department sees the event as a valuable way to promote community relationships.

“It’s just basically a way to get everybody out to enjoy the evening,” said Ollendiek. “A good way for people to get to know the faces of police officers, first responders, and all the others who will be there.”

More than 200 back-to-school backpacks were given away. Backpacks were donated by the Salvation Army, and volunteers from Zoetis filled the backpacks with school supplies.

There were also dozens of pairs of tennis shoes given away, courtesy of Mackenzie Wilson and her Back to School Shoe Drive, helping kids who need them get free shoes for school.

There were drawings for free bicycles, free hot dogs, along with cookies, chips and water, and attractions for kids included inflatables, a 70-foot obstacle course and an 18-foot slide. The Boy Scouts had their pedal cars available and the Charles City Fire Department had its fire safety trailer available.

National Night Out intends to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement, while bringing a sense of community and an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all 50 states.

Sponsors included CC Cares, Fareway, Farm Bureau, First Security, Jeremy Heyer- Edward Jones, Hauser-Weishaar Funeral Home, HyVee, McDonalds, MercyOne Air Med, Messiah Lutheran, Mike Molstead Motors, Paul & Margo Rottinghaus, Subway, Theisens, Valero, Zoetis and others.