Residents can take a bite out of a hot dog Tuesday while also helping take a bite out of crime during the annual National Night Out hosted by the Moultrie Police Department.

The annual event, which this year is from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Jim Buck Goff Center, will give the public a chance to interact with police.

“The Moultrie Police Department is excited to announce that we are participating in the National Association of Town Watch’s 31st Annual National Night Out program on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014,” the agency said in a news release. “The public is invited to enjoy a hot dog and learn more about some of the wonderful organizations, agencies, and groups that provide a variety of vital services to Moultrie and Colquitt County.”

The police department also will hand out a limited amount of school supplies to kids for the start of the school year. The recreational center is located at Fifth Street Southwest and 11th Avenue.

Nationally, National Night Out 2013 involved more than 37.8 million people in 16,242 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide, the department’s news release said. National Night Out 2014 is expected to be the largest ever.

“National Night Out, a yearlong community building campaign, is designed to: (1) heighten crime prevention awareness, (2) generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and (4) send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back,” the release said..

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/moultriepolice or http://www.natw.org.