Dear Business and Community Partners, 

The Bluffton and Pandora Police Departments are in the planning stages for holding our annual National Night Out celebration. This year marks a milestone as this will be our 10th annual event! We are so thankful for the assistance from the communities of Bluffton and Pandora over the years, and we hope that you will continue to assist with this event. If you haven't helped in the past, we will welcome your assistance this year!

This year's event will be held on Tuesday August 6 and will take place at the Bluffton Community Swimming Pool from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and free pool admission will be offered all day. The Bluffton, Beaverdam and Pandora Fire and EMS Departments will also be participating in this event and those communities and surrounding areas are invited to attend. 

The Chamber of Commerce will again cap off the evening with Fireworks at approximately 9:30 p.m. We have scheduled a rain date for Wednesday August 7 for Fireworks, but the National Night Out event will be rain or shine. There will be food, snacks, and drinks provided along with giveaways, firetruck displays and rides, face painting, bounce houses, music, and more. For more information on National Night Out, please visit www.natw.org/ 

Each year we host approximately 1,500-2,000 people. We are planning to host just as many people this year as National Night Out has become a well-received and looked forward to event for the community! 

To continue to put this event together for the community, we will be in need of numerous volunteers and are again seeking monetary and "in-kind" donations. This event is set up as a "leave your wallet at home" event and we use no taxpayer money to put this on, so without the generous donations from people and organizations like you, this event wouldn't be possible. 

If you are able to assist again this year, or want to help for the first time, checks can be sent to the Bluffton Police Department (154 N Main St) and made payable to "Village of Bluffton" with National Night Out on the memo line. 

If you would like to make a donation by way of food, drink (water and soda), or other needed items, please contact Lieutenant Oglesbee at the Bluffton Police Department and he will coordinate with you on that. Lt. Oglesbee can be reached at 419-358-2961 ext. 110 or email [email protected]. 

If you wish to volunteer, or have a group that will volunteer, please contact Lt. Oglesbee and he will forward the information to the volunteer coordinator. Volunteers will be split into two shifts again this year with one group helping from 5:30-7:15 p.m. and the next group from 7:00-9:15 p.m. Anyone is welcome to stay and help during the whole evening if you wish. Please respond by July 12 at the latest if you are able to help with any type of donation or to volunteer this year. This will allow us time to make more contacts if needed. 

The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce (www.explorebluffton.com) will be providing fireworks to cap off the night. For information, donations, or questions regarding the fireworks, please contact Jim Enneking at the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce at 419-369-2985 or [email protected]. 

Thank you so much for your time and we look forward to working with you to make this a wonderful night for everyone to enjoy!! 

Chief Ryan Burkholder 

Lt. Matt Oglesbee