GREENFIELD – Seven-year-old Max Ledbetter slipped his arms through the straps of a forest green backpack and hugged it to his chest.
The red-haired, freckled-faced boy was happy to be among the hundreds of kids who received a new backpack packed with school supplies at the Hancock County Community Night on Wednesday night at the Hancock County Fairgrounds.
Families braved the heat and humidity from 5-8 p.m. to take part in the annual back-to-school event, which features lots of freebies and the chance to interact with local first responders and vendors offering a wide variety of services for families and kids.
Many escaped the heat by filing into the exhibit hall to enjoy free hot dogs, chips and snow cones.
A long line of people also made their way into the multipurpose arena, where a number of vendors were offering information and giveaways.
“This is a great event. We really enjoy it,” said Mara Welch, a mother of two from Greenfield, who said the free giveaway really helps with expenses when kids return to school.
Families even had access to free car seats and car seat safety checks, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Event organizers and parents agreed it was yet another successful Community Night.
“We really want to thank our sponsors and supporters,” said Deputy Chief Charles McMichael of the Greenfield Police Department, a member of the Community Night planning committee. “Without them it wouldn’t be possible.”
Organizers were able to distribute nearly 900 backpacks loaded with supplies to kids, who were required to be present to take a backpack home.
Deputies from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department spent the evening handing out the backpacks, which were piled high in a trailer in the outdoor pavilion.
Wednesday’s event featured safety demonstrations and plenty of fun stuff for kids, including a bounce house, an inflatable obstacle course and a Touch-a-Truck zone, where kids got the chance to explore fire trucks, police cars and heavy machinery up close.
A medical helicopter from Ascension St. Vincent Hospital also made an appearance.
The Hancock County Public Library’s bookmobile gave visitors the chance to check out books while Nine13sports – a health and fitness-related nonprofit – invited guests to pedal their hearts out on stationary bikes.
Families stopped by tents manned by the Greenfield Fire Department, Greenfield Police Department and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department – all of which helped host the event – to score some free giveaways and mingle with local first responders.
At one point in the night, the crowd cheered on three firefighters as they raced to see who could be the first to strap on their 70 pounds of gear.
Avery Hayes, a probationary officer with the Greenfield Fire Department, won the race and had some pictures snapped with young kids.
Community Night is a great way for first responders to interact with the community, said McMichael, who handles the Greenfield Police Department’s community affairs.
“They get to know us and we get to know the community,” he said. “When kids get a chance to meet us at a fun event like this it makes them more comfortable around us, which will hopefully make them more comfortable calling us for help if they ever need it. That’s why it’s so important to build these relationships.”
For all the great things happening at Community Night, 23-month-old Parker Bowsher was mostly focused on the hot dog he had clenched in his tiny hand.
“We don’t have hot dogs a lot, so he’s really enjoying this,” said the young boy’s father, Brandon Bowsher, whose wife Amanda was elsewhere on the fairgrounds with their three other kids.
“We love this event. We come every year,” he said.
