Milton, Fla. - The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County (DOH-Santa Rosa) and CDAC Behavioral Health will host the 2020 National Night Out, Tuesday, October 6, at the Milton Community Center, 5629 Byrom Street in Milton. The event will begin at 4:00 p.m. and continue until all supplies have been distributed. In keeping with COVID-19 guidance on social distancing and limiting the size of community gatherings, this year's Night Out will be a drive-thru event. 

"We are inviting the community to come together in the safest way possible, by having a no-contact, drive-thru event," said Vince Nguyen, health educator and tobacco cessation specialist with DOH-Santa Rosa. "In these unprecedented times when so many families have been affected by this pandemic, it is more important than ever that we focus on what is important - helping each other and strengthening our communities."   

Instead of booths stationed around the parking lot at the community center, vendors will participate by providing educational materials and promotional items that will be added to gift bags distributed to each family. Students will receive school supplies donated by local agencies and businesses sponsoring the event and each family will receive a bag of food provided by Feeding the Gulf Coast.   

Upon arriving at the community center, attendees will remain in their vehicles with their windows up. Local law enforcement and volunteers will be on hand to greet vehicles as they pass through. The route will be lined with yard signs displaying positive messages on crime and drug abuse prevention, strengthening communities, and police-community partnerships. Volunteers in appropriate protective equipment will place bags in car trunks and truck beds. 

For more information, contact Denise Manassa with CDAC Behavioral Health at dmanassa@cdac.info or Vince Nguyen at Vince.Nguyen@flhealth.gov.  

To learn more about the National Night Out, visit natw.org/about/  

About the Florida Department of Health 

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.