Citizens, law enforcement agencies, community groups, businesses, youth organizations and local, state and federal officials from more than 16,200 communities in all 50 states, U. S. territories, Canadian cities and U. S. Armed Forces installations worldwide, will join together for National Night Out 2014 next week.

Sheriff Steve Boyer invites county residents to join him, sheriff’s office personnel and public safety agencies for Kitsap County’s National Night Out event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 5, at the Haselwood Family YMCA.

This year’s National Night Out is presented by the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office together with the Silverdale Target Store and the Haselwood Family YMCA.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the program. National Night Out is traditionally held each year on the first Tuesday in August.

“We value National Night Out because it provides a forum for residents and communities to come together with a common purpose,” said Sheriff Boyer. “It stresses the importance of communicating with each other, and with our public safety agencies, and of taking an interest in what is occurring in our respective neighborhoods.”

National Night Out, a year-long community building campaign, is designed to:

• Heighten crime prevention awareness.

• Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs.

• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police – community partnerships.

• Send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and observant.

The YMCA is located at 3909 NW Randall Way, Silverdale.