More than 2,500 people visited the Ames Middle School last Tuesday for an event that included a giveaway of 1,290 pairs of shoes, a resource fair and a Black Hawk helicopter. 

The event has grown since its beginning in 2019, according to Nate Rivera of the Ames Police Department.

“It just became a good partnership,” Rivera said. 

He elaborated on the idea behind National Night Out. 

“The overarching theme of National Night Out is just an opportunity to get out into the community and just talk with people, meet with people,” Rivera said. “And just kind of humanize the badge a little bit.” 

The event included a shoe giveaway for children going back to school. In total, Hope In Christ had 1,290 pairs to give away.

Robert Knight, a pastor at Vida Nueva church, and one of the organizers of the Hope In Christ Back 2 School Celebration, said people began lining up for shoes a full hour and a half before the event began.

“I’ve already heard people are coming from Marshalltown, other communities,” Knight said. “If somebody could be blessed with those shoes this year, I don’t care where they come from. Marshalltown, Des Moines, it doesn’t matter. If they came, if they drove forty-five minutes to get here, they need a pair of shoes.”

Knight spoke about the vision of Hope In Christ and how he was reminded of the song that says, “I don’t care if they remember me, only Jesus.”

“It’s not about any individual church,” Knight said. “You see, it says, ‘Hope In Christ.’ It doesn’t say Vida Nueva or Kaleo. It’s all the churches together doing it for Christ.”

Geoff Huff, Ames Police Chief, spoke about the event’s growth from last year.

“Last year we probably had maybe 2,000 [people], maybe 2,500,” Huff said. “I would say we have every bit of 2,500 this year, and it’s probably going to hit 3,000.” 

Huff spoke about the excitement he saw at the event from kids with brand-new shoes.

“Every kid loves a brand-new pair of shoes, right?” Huff said. “I think that outreach and engagement is just awesome.”