South Brunswick Community Unity Day Returns Tuesday Evening

Though the shape of the event has changed over the years, the tradition of unity remains the same.

South Brunswick's 25th annual Charlene J. Austin Community Unity Day will return Tuesday evening as part of the National Night Out celebration at Rowland Park. Unity Day has, for the past few years, been combined with National Night Out after having been a standalone event in the township for over two decades.

The Community Unity Day Pavilion at Rowland Park brings together over 30 civic and community groups to share information on their services and programs, while also offering displays on the healthy activities they provide to prevent alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse. This year’s pavilion will include various township departments, school groups, local hospitals and health organizations, religious and faith-based groups and non-profit organizations. 

"In keeping with the community atmosphere of National Night Out, we encourage participation from as many community-based groups and organizations as possible," said Community Unity Day coordinator Christine Mariano.

Unity Day, which is sponsored by the South Brunswick Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse, was founded by the late Charlene J. Austin, for whom the event was later named. Austin was the first chairperson of the Mayor’s Task Force on Substance Abuse and the South Brunswick Municipal Alliance.

It was originally launched as a means to bring the township together to fight against drug and alcohol abuse among South Brunswick youth. While funding issues several years ago shuttered the day as its own event, the partnership of the past few years with South Brunswick Police's National Night Out event made for a perfect marriage.

The 30th annual National Night Out celebration will be held tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rowland Park, located on Broadway Road near Rowland Road. The celebration will offer free rides for kids, games and prizes, free hot dogs, soda, chips, ice cream, and popcorn.

In addition, residents will have the opportunity to chat with township first responders while viewing displays from the township police and fire departments, first aid squads, and other groups at the event.

"We encourage participation from as many community-based groups and organizations as possible," Mariano said. "Thanks to the incredible number of people who typically attend National Night Out, we have an opportunity to reach thousands of residents and showcase the wealth of services and opportunities available to members of our community.  Our goal is to promote safe, healthy lifestyles for all South Brunswick residents, free of substance abuse."