SHERMAN, TX -- Tuesday was National Night Out for Texas, and neighborhoods across Texoma were blocked off for the occasion. The goal is to promote safety and neighborhood camaraderie.

The block parties were more than just a chance for neighbors and law enforcement to get together and socialize, they also served another purpose - safety. Tuesday was National Night Out for Texas, and neighborhoods across Texoma were blocked off for the occasion.

And the gatherings weren’t without all the fixings either, as residents spent plenty of time preparing some of their signature dishes for neighbors and law enforcement to enjoy.

"One of the things we talked about is that they had been baking all morning so we knew it would be good,” said Sergeant Bruce Dawsey of the Sherman Police Department.

Tuesday’s Night Out was the 6th annual for residents on West Shields Street in Sherman. And long time home owner there, Marge Abernethy, said she always looks forward to the block party.

"Just getting together with the neighbors, we don't see them all that much but we like for everybody to know that we're on the lookout for any problems or to help out," said Abernethy.

And as Sergeant Dawsey says, the goal of National Night Out is to promote relationships between law enforcement and local communities.

"It's one thing to answer calls in an area but it's another thing to actually spend some time with the citizens when you're not on a call when you have time to relax and just talk and find out what their concerns hopefully that we can address,” explained Dawsey.

Dawsey and other police officers feel that the more united a neighborhood, the lower the crime and drug use will be in their community.

"It helps people, so that if they know their neighbors and if something suspicious is going on or if there's someone going into another house that they don't recognize or don't know, then it would help us in preventing crime so that they would call us and we could catch someone in the act. That's the basic concept behind it,” said Dawsey.

So for Marge Abernethy, a resident on this street for 32 years, National Night Out gives her a sense of safety as well.

"I think that if everybody's aware that we're looking out for each other it makes a difference, and we enjoy the police and the firemen coming,” said Abernethy.

Sergeant Dawsey says if your neighborhood is interested in putting together a block party, or participating in next year's national night out, just give your local police department a call.