Delaware County Council Participates in National Night Events

Released: Aug 2, 2023

Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer, and Councilwoman Christine Reuther were thrilled to participate in the 40th annual National Night Out activities on Tuesday, August 1, with visits to events in Aston, Havertown, Lansdowne, Marple, Springfield, and Upper Darby.

Great summer weather contributed to big crowds, with impressive turnouts also reported in Chichester, East Lansdowne, Edgmont Township, Morton, Prospect Park, Ridley, and Sharon Hill.

National Night Out, founded in 1984 by Lower Merion resident and Town Watch volunteer Matt Peskin, is a community-building campaign created to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, with a goal of building relationships, safer neighborhoods, and a better sense of community among the residents.

Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, kid’s activities, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits, raffles, and equipment and vehicle demonstrations, and more.

In Delaware County, hundreds of first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and ambulance squads participated (often serving as the organizers), with scores of volunteer-led community organizations, elected officials, and businesses large and small also contributing to the festivities.

District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and his staff participated at numerous locations, with staff from the Delaware County Department of Emergency Services — including over two dozen volunteers Citizen Corps of Delaware County — the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), and the Delaware County Health Department also on hand to provide helpful information regarding services and programs available to County residents.

Nationally, more than a thousand communities from all 50 States, U.S. territories and many military bases worldwide participated. National Night Out is held annually on the first Tuesday in August.

Thank you to the organizers, participants, and the community members who attended in support of this community-building event.