The mission of National Night Out is to strengthen the relationship between police and the communities they serve.

If Jim Thorpe’s annual celebration Tuesday night was any indication, that relationship is strong, to say the least.

Hundreds of people filled Memorial Park for a night of connecting among police, first responders and organizations serving the community.

“It’s just family and good fellowship. We have a lot of good agencies here, and the whole community chips in,” said Joe Schatz, chief of Jim Thorpe Police Department.

Some dark clouds threatened the beginning of the event, but didn’t faze the kids who took over memorial park. For sticking around, attendees were rewarded with a dazzling fire show from the Crufeli Circus.

Children got to get up close and explore firetrucks from local departments like Jim Thorpe and Nesquehoning, and sit in a Pennsylvania State Police cruiser — in the front seat of course. The game commission let kids get hands on with deer antlers.

Sophie Reeder excitedly jumped in the driver’s seat of the state police cruiser despite barely being able to see out the window.

“She can be scared of police, but she jumped right in there,” her mother, Matty Reeder, said.

Mayor Michael Sofranko was impressed with the turnout, and he said the community and organizations have always come out to support the event.

Over 40 organizations set up at the event.

Turn to Us, an organization dedicated to helping people and families who face chronic illness, were getting the word out about their campaign to build the area’s first sensory gym for children with autism. Founder Alicia Kline said the disorder now affects 1 in 58 children.

The town’s Boy Scout troops were also on hand. Timothy Loftus, a rising junior at Jim Thorpe Area High School, was helping to recruit Scouts for Troop 555.

“It’s youth leadership. That’s the number one reason to join. It’s also a good time. That’s the reason I love it,” he said.

The PTA of L.B. Morris School, the primary school for the borough, was there to recruit new members to help raise money for events and field trips for the school. As an incentive, Principal Holly Mordaunt agreed that if the PTA recruited 350 new members, she would camp on the roof of her school. The challenge has the members excited, Vice President Heather Mullen said.

“We sponsor events and services for our students that they wouldn’t normally be able to do. And it is a lot of fun stuff,” she said.

L.B. Morris guidance counselor Jodi Damian was also there. She was handing students who attended TORCH points, which are good for items at the school store. It’s part of their positive behavior reinforcement program.

“Instead of focusing on the negative and disciplining so much, we’re trying to focus on the positive,” Damian said.