Annual National Night Out to focus on drug awareness

National Night Out

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 

5:30- 8 p.m.

Shades Mountain Baptist Church

On Oct. 7, the community is invited to the Vestavia Hills Police and Fire Departments’ National Night Out. The event will run from 5:30-8 p.m. at Shades Mountain Baptist Church.

Attendees will have a chance to enjoy free barbecue by Moe’s Original BBQ, hot dogs prepared by members of the Vestavia Hills Sunrise Rotary Club, ice cream by Bruster’s Real Ice Cream. Bring chairs and blankets and watch the event kick off with the arrival of the Children’s CAREFlight helicopter. There will be a designated kids’ area with inflatables, a hot air balloon sponsored by Bama Breeze, GameTruck, live music and an assortment of public safety equipment, apparatuses and U.S. Military vehicles. 

Each year, volunteers organize the event and choose a different issue in the community to address. This year’s theme is drug awareness. The event coincides with other drug awareness events across the community such as Leadership Vestavia Hills’ initiative, Help the Hills, and the Vestavia Hills High School volunteer drug program.

At the event, the police department will officially launch this year’s Project 365 called “All for One,” a program that will bring together the community, schools and VHPD and VHFD to bring drug prevention and education to the community and surrounding areas. Through community support and sponsors such as Two Men and a Truck and Sunoco, the Vestavia Hill Police Department has purchased drug boxes that will be placed at local area police departments. There will be a drug box dedication at the event.

In addition, the community is asked to contribute pictures, letters, mementos, etc for a Remembrance Wall honoring those who have passed due to drug use, those who continue to struggle, and for all the families and friends whose lives are touched by addiction. 

“The police have had great success with drug collection boxes and working in collaboration with The Addiction Prevention Coalition, Help the Hills and Leadership Vestavia. National Night Out will kick off this project that will include 365 days of efforts to educate and bring awareness to a growing problem in our city and provide some tangible solutions to getting drugs out of the hands of our children,” said Vestavia Hills resident, Heather Pike. 

Leading up to the event, the Sybil Temple will be lit up blue to honor those who have passed away.

“We try to do the event in different places in the city each year,” Pike said. “It’s really just a great time for everyone to come together as a community.”

Full details about the project will be available at the event. Businesses that would like to participate, sponsor or interested in more details can visit vestaviahillspolice.com or call Joel Gastin at 978-0137.