Tuesday, Aug. 4, was National Night Out Against Crime, with the NYPD’s 112th Precinct hosting its event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at MacDonald Park in Forest Hills. Hundreds of neighborhood residents showed up to back the blue, learn more about safety and eat some delicious free food.
There were numerous tables set up for the visitors to interact with community members, ranging from the Queens Public Library to Target, doing a notebook and folder giveaway and backpack raffle, to community groups and elected officials represented by their volunteers. There were balloons, face painting and magic for children, plus free hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and cookies.
PJ Marcel of the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps, who was grilling hotdogs and burgers, told the Chronicle, “We’ve been doing this for 15 years,” and typically cook 1,000 hot dogs and 600 hamburgers using ingredients donated by the 112th Precinct.
Several residents and officials took the stage, the steps of the Forest Hills Jewish Center, to perform and give speeches. What a fun time everyone had!
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards spoke of the importance of the community in ensuring public safety, telling the Chronicle, “Safety is predicated on the community. We make Queens safer by all coming together.”
State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven), who has been attending National Night Out for 25 years, told the Chronicle, “It really does bring the people and precinct together.”
Chief Schwartz of the city Sheriff’s Office told the Chronicle, “It’s an opportunity to share with the community and to explain to the community that we’re here for them and are also a part of the community, and our goal is to make positive social change so the public has a sense of safety and trust within the community.”
Schwartz, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 32 years, says it is “extremely rewarding to give back.”