Tuesday evening was perfect as the Nesquehoning community came together for the annual National Night Out celebration.

Twenty-eight groups gathered on the grounds of the Nesquehoning Police station, setting up various stands to educate children on emergency preparedness, while making it fun.

Borough firefighters brought a firetruck and foam trailer, while Lehighton Ambulance had an ambulance open so children could learn about CPR and other lifesaving measures.

The police department had a course set up for children to try to pedal their way around the road while wearing drunk goggles. They also handed out free shirts to the kids.

“We are making that connection between the community and us (emergency responders) and they get to see us in a different circumstance,” said Police Chief Bradley Hess. “We look forward to these community events and the turnout speaks for itself.”

He thanked all the businesses, organizations and community members that came together to make the night a success.

“We’re fortunate that we have people willing to do this and volunteer their time,” Hess said.

National Night Out is an initiative that takes place in communities all over the country as a way to bring residents and organizations together and build a relationship outside of emergencies.

This year, Nesquehoning was one of three police departments that received a $5,000 grant from Carbon County’s opioid settlement funds. The other two departments were Lehighton and Jim Thorpe.