Residents across Minden gathered Tuesday, September 22, for National Night Out, with four neighborhood parties bringing together community members, city officials, and first responders for an evening of food, fellowship, and fun.
Pleasant weather helped draw crowds to the gatherings at Ewell Park, Babb Park, Carey Lane, and Cox Lane. Residents visited over meals and refreshments throughout the evening, although an abundance of love bugs provided an unwelcome addition to the festivities.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign designed to strengthen relationships among neighbors and promote partnerships between residents and law enforcement.
Michael Walker, who helped host the gathering at Babb Park, thanked those who participated and helped organize the event.
“We want to thank everyone who showed up for NNO this year,” Walker said. “The turnout was great despite having to fight the love bugs. From the bottom of our hearts, thanks to everyone who had a part in making this a success. There’s no way we can do all we do without the wonderful citizens of Minden.”
District C Councilwoman Latasha Mitchell also emphasized the role neighborhood connections can play in strengthening the community.
“When we build unity, we build a safer, stronger, connected community for everyone,” Mitchell said. “Thanks for all the support the citizens showed last night.”
National Night Out Chairman and District A Councilman Carlton “Buddy” Myles said the event is intended to encourage residents to become more familiar with the people who live around them and look out for one another.
“National Night Out is about community,” Myles said. “It’s about us knowing one another, knowing each other’s children, knowing who your neighbor is, but not only that, it’s about taking care of your neighbor. There are so many people that live down the street from us, and we don’t even know who they are. This is what National Night Out is supposed to fix.”
The four gatherings offered residents an opportunity to do just that, with neighbors spending the evening sharing food, meeting new people, catching up with familiar faces, and visiting with local officials and first responders.
For a few hours Tuesday evening, National Night Out turned parks, yards, and neighborhood gathering places into opportunities for the face-to-face connections at the heart of the annual event — love bugs and all.
