Hempfield Night Out community event to honor police, first responders this summer

Officials across Hempfield are gearing up to take part in a national campaign aimed at honoring law enforcement officers and first responders.

Hempfield Night Out — a community event modeled after National Night Out, which works to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement — is scheduled for August. The event will bring together several local law enforcement agencies, first responders and community resources.

“After the past two years with the pandemic, we are hoping to establish a sense of coming together, honor our first responders and provide resources for families and community members,” said Lisa Maloney, Hempfield Area School District’s supervisor of pupil services.

The event is scheduled from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Aug. 4 outside Hempfield Area High School’s stadium.

This is the first time Hempfield will host festivities for National Night Out. The idea came from members of the district’s Safety and Security and Drug Awareness and Prevention committees, who wanted to further the mission of both committees while showcasing community partners, Maloney said.

Interested members formed a subcommittee for the event, which is composed of teachers, administrators, school board members, school police, parents and students.

In addition, representatives from the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission, Council on Substance Abuse and Youth, state police, Hempfield Township, Westmoreland’s juvenile probation, the Westmoreland County Coroner’s office, emergency dispatchers, community agencies and community and business members sit on the sub-committee.

During a Hempfield meeting last month, Aaron Siko, the township’s director of parks and recreation, said the event is an “opportunity for the residents of Hempfield and the Hempfield Area School District to come and meet those first responders, really get a taste of what’s going on as far as the public safety of the community.”

Maloney added that organizers hope for a large turnout of both first responders and community resources, as well as residents.

The event will take place two days after the nationwide National Night Out event so as to not force first responders and county agencies to choose between a similar events in other communities, such as Mt. Pleasant or Apollo.

The Hempfield event also will offer family friendly activities, food trucks and prizes.

“We are excited about this event and hope to continue for years to come,” Maloney said. “There is a definite energy in the planning, and we are hoping to provide a wonderful experience for our vendors, first responders, community agencies and attendees.”