Several communities around Carbon County are preparing for National Night Out next week, a night for the community to meet the first responders who protect them. The evening takes place around the area on Aug. 4.

Earlier this month, the Carbon County Commissioners awarded four area departments $5,000 grants each to be used for outreach and recovery support materials during National Night Out celebrations. Recipients include Lehighton, Palmerton, Nesquehoning and Weatherly police departments. The funds are from the Opioid Settlement Fund that the county has been receiving.

Last week, Nesquehoning council announced that volunteers are still welcome to make the evening in the borough a success. The borough recreation commission is working with police on finalizing the plans.

The event takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the grounds of the recreation center, located on West Railroad Street. It includes giveaways, a photo booth, bounce house, hot dogs and snacks, and plenty of information to prepare for emergencies.

Organizers are also collecting school supply donations for Panther Valley Elementary School. Donations can include Band-Aids, paper towels, antibacterial soap, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer.

In Weatherly, National Night Out events run from 5 to 8 p.m. and will include meeting the borough’s police officers, as well as various local, county and state agencies.

There will be food, games and a bounce house and face painting for the kids.

Smokey Bear will be on hand to greet residents, while the Lehigh Valley medical helicopter will land at 5:30 p.m. and remain until 6:30.

The Jim Thorpe community holds its event from 6 to 8 p.m. in Memorial Park and will include 35 organizations, as well as food trucks, music, a classic car show by Juke Box Cruisers, fire apparatus, raffles and plenty of giveaways for the kids.

The fifth annual event in Palmerton will bring together over 40 organizations for families to learn about and will include giveaways, free popcorn and ice cream and more. It concludes with a Movie in the Park event, hosted by The Concourse Club of Palmerton.

Other area NNO events around the region are:

Lehigh County

• Slatington Police Department from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Slatington Skeet Grove, Slatington. The event is being presented by the Slatington Lions Club, and will feature first responders at 6 p.m. There will also be a basket raffle, games, $10 dinner with choice of hamburger/hot dog, potato and corn, with proceeds to benefit first responders.

Schuylkill County

• Coaldale Community Crime Watch will hold the event from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Complex Field. There will be free hot dogs, water and raffles. There will also be balloon creations and several community groups coming together to learn about the first responders of the community.

• Tamaqua will set up at the high school parking lot from to 8 p.m. and includes a police meet and greet, touch-a-truck, crime prevention information, refreshments and more.

Reporter Terry Ahner also contributed to this story.