As much as we may not want to admit it, the new school year is coming up quickly. Hancock County Community Night is an annual event for local families to pick up free school supplies and other goodies, view public safety demonstrations and learn more about the resources available for children and parents/guardians in Hancock County!

When is the event?

Hancock County Community Night will take place on July 19th from 5-8 p.m.

Where is it located?

This annual event will be hosted at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, located at 620 Apple St, Greenfield, IN 46140.

What is Hancock County Community Night?

As you arrive at the fairgrounds for Hancock County Community Night, be prepared to visit a large number of booths from our local nonprofits, health organizations and more. The event is an opportunity for families to collect free school supplies, encourage positive relationships with first responders and provide families with education and resources for overall better health and wellness. According to the Greenfield Reporter, event organizers gave out 750 backpacks in just an hour and a half during the drive-through Community Night in 2020, and in 2021 they were planning to distribute roughly 1,300 backpacks full of supplies. 

This year, high school and junior high students will receive folders, hi-lighters, paper binders, colored pencils, pencils and ink pens in a full backpack. Elementary students will receive folders, crayons, paper, markers, pencils, erasers, ruler in a sling bag.

What type of resources will be available?

This annual event usually attracts thousands of families and last year had 30 nonprofit participants stationed at booths around the fairgrounds. Organizations will be handing out educational information, free school supplies and other giveaway goodies as visitors travel throughout the booths. In 2021, participants included nonprofits like Hancock County Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels of Hancock County, Hope House Thrift Store, Love INC of Greater Hancock County, and the Women’s Resource Center of Hancock County. 

Many social services were also available at the event to provide important information about the resources they provide to children, including Healthy Families of Indiana, Central Indiana First Steps, Head Start, Children’s Bureau, now known as the Firefly Children and Family Alliance, Hancock4Kids and the Department of Child Services. Local health organizations were also on hand to discuss important wellness information, including the Healthy365 Connection Center, Hancock Regional Hospital, Community Health and Jane Pauley Community Health Center. There will also be free car seat inspections available for families during the event, as well as free seats for those who meet the financial requirements.

Event attendees can also expect public safety demonstrations and equipment on display from a number of local first-responder teams, which in 2021 included the Hancock County Sherriff Department, McCordsville Police, Fountaintown Volunteer Fire Department, Hancock County SWAT team, Green Township Volunteer Fire Dept, Hancock County Emergency Management, Fortville Police Department, Shirley Police Department, Greenfield Fire Territory and more. 

Free food, treats and activities are also expected at this year’s event after we enjoyed a bounce house, snow cones, hot dogs, chips and drinks in 2021. You can find more specifics about the details of this year’s event and the 2022 participating organizations on their Facebook page as the date gets closer.