Residents of Richmond and surrounding counties will gather Tuesday, Aug. 4, with their neighbors and members of law enforcement to cook out, dance, socialize, host activities for youngsters and hold anti-crime rallies.

The community gatherings are part of the annual National Night Out, designed to forge a closer bond between community members and police departments around the nation.

“That fellowship becomes a powerful crime-fighting weapon, motivating people to help and look out for one another,” said Capt. Angela Greene of the Richmond Police Department’s Community, Youth and Intervention Services Division.

In Richmond, residents are invited to join Richmond Police for a National Night Out kickoff event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Target store at 7107 Forest Hill Ave. on South Side.

Officers will be on hand with crime prevention materials and children’s fingerprinting ID kits. The event also will include free food.

For more information about National Night Out events in Richmond, contact Sgt. Carol Adams of the Richmond Police Community Care Unit at (804) 646-4069 or go to www.richmondgov.com/police/NationalNightOut.aspx.