Residents Continue Tradition For Community Awareness Night
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FRISCO (CBSDFW.COM) - More than three dozen block parties took place all over Frisco Saturday night in an effort to bring first responders and the community closer together.
The city's Community Awareness Night is a local version of National Night Out that aims to foster closer ties between public safety officers and the people they serve.
Police and city leaders said as Frisco continues to grow, they're happy to see this kind of outreach grow with it.
Long before Frisco ever held a Community Awareness Night, Barbara Gallegos had the idea on her own. After first responders helped her when her home caught fire, she wanted to say thank you.
"And so for her to show her appreciation, she figured one way for her to do it is to feed," said her son Feliciano Gallegos.
For years, Barbara combined her annual thank you dinner with National Night Out, and then Frisco's own local version of the event until she passed away earlier this year.
"This will obviously be the first year she's not here with us, so we wanted to continue this for her just to let the city know she may be gone but she's still with us and we still want to show our appreciation," said Feliciano Gallegos.
Mayor Maher Maso was one of many grateful that Barbara's son and other relatives are carrying on the tradition.
"Last year I promised your mom that I'd be back there helping, so I'm going to help for a little bit," Mayor Maso told the family as he prepared to help serve food.
The Gallegos family is not alone. This year more than three dozen parties across Frisco registered to take part in the annual event that brings first responders together with the people they serve.
"You know we have that small-town feel, but we're not a small town anymore, and the parties get bigger and bigger every year," said Frisco Deputy Police Chief David Shilson.
And as the number of parties grows along with the city's booming population, the one started by Barbara Gallegos will always hold a special place for those who remember her.
"She was a staple in this. She really helped create a place where everybody wanted to come," said Maso.
"We were going to continue this no matter what. No matter what. She's here. She's here with us," said Feliciano Gallegos.
National Night Out is traditionally held in August. Texas has the option of holding it in October to avoid hot weather, but Frisco Police said the reason Frisco holds its own version in May is to coincide with National Police Week and to avoid interfering with football season.
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