CLAY COUNTY – Officially, National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

Sheriff Michelle Cook put it in simpler terms when she said, “One of the keys to a successful marriage is date night. That’s what National Night Out is. It’s date night.”

Deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office will be out in the community at selected locations on Tuesday, Aug. 2, to build positive relationships between law enforcement and residents.

The program started 1984 by Matt Peskin in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. It was designed to “enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community,” according to the organization, and it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

NNO said neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and exhibits.

One of the larger events in the county will be at the Crosspointe Church at 1871 County Road 220 on Fleming Island. Local churches are invited to place a booth at the event. Cook said she also will be at Crosspointe to meet residents.

“It’s an opportunity to get to know the deputies that work your area,” she said. “You know, there’s an old saying that you don’t build relationships with a crisis. So, we have to take a pause in our day-to-day duties and deliberately communicate with people. You have to take time, I mean, relationships require time and communication. Everybody gets so busy doing their jobs, whether it’s us or the community that you know.”

According to the NNO organization, there also are events registered for Middleburg, Orange Park and Keystone Heights.