The MPD provides a gift bag for neighborhood Night to Unite gatherings, including paper plates and other supplies, two T shirts and a first aid kit to use as a door prize, displayed here by Leann Wallin. (Photo/Nancy Hanson.)
Nancy Edmonds Hanson
Moorhead residents have been gathering on the first Tuesday of August for nearly 25 years for Night to Unite, the neighborhood get-togethers sponsored by the Moorhead Police Department. But this year’s events on Aug. 1 seem more significant than ever.
That’s because of the collective sense of shock shared by people across the metro area. Last Friday, three Fargo police officers were shot by an assailant, along with an uninvolved civilian and, ultimately, the assailant. Since the death of young Fargo police officer Jake Wallin, Fargo-Moorhead residents have been searching for ways to express their sympathy and their support of the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect them.
Beyond blue porch lights and blue-line banners, the annual neighborhood Night to Unite gatherings offer an opportunity to thank local officers in person.
“People are asking, ‘What can we do?’” says Leann Wallin, the MPD’s community policing coordinator. “The Night to Unite is a way to rally the neighborhoods to come together and show their support.”
Moorhead officers and staff visit every Night to Unite gathering held in the city, along with city officials and fire fighters. The relaxed, family-friendly events – typically held outdoors in yards, in blocked-off streets and in parks – offer a chance for citizens to get to know police and fire fighters, as well as to ask questions and express concerns.
“It comes down to getting to know your neighbors,” Wallin says. “These gatherings are a great way to strengthen our sense of community and create safer neighborhoods for everyone.”
In the years before the pandemic, more than 80 evening socials were held across Moorhead; the high of 86 was recorded the year before Covid-19 shut everything down. Since then, numbers have been slow to recover. Both 2021 and 2022 totaled 66.
“I’m so thankful for all the neighborhood leaders who plan these events. This night wouldn’t be a success without them,” Wallin notes.
This year, however, the tally was sitting at just 47 as of Monday. “If your neighborhood isn’t participating, consider being the person to get it started,” she urges. She points out that if the idea of organizing a neighborhood-wide event seems overwhelming, it need not be overly ambitious or elaborate. “Keep it simple. Lemonade and cookies are just fine. This night is all about neighbors getting to know one another and being able to connect with law enforcement.”
Neighborhood hosts are asked to register with the department – both to insure that officers get to every event, and so that the organizers can pick up the gift bags the department provides. Along with paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils and other supplies, the totes are stuffed with a pair of official Night to Unite T-shirts and a compact first aid kit donated by Magnifi Financial. The shirts and kit can be used for a prize drawing. Nearby businesses, too, often donate prizes. Party planners can also ask to have their streets blocked off for the gatherings, generally held from 5:30 or 6 to 7 or later.
Some neighborhood gatherings can be traced back to the establishment of what was originally called National Night Out. Others have come online in more recent times. Night to Unite gatherings are currently held in more than 100 Minnesota cities, according to the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, its statewide sponsor.
For more information and to register an event, go to www.cityofmoorhead.com and search for “Night to Unite.”
(Fargo officer Jake Wallin, who died in the assault July 14, is not related to Leann and her family.)
