Eighteen residents of May and the surrounding area were introduced to the new Salvation Army Canteen truck and given a tour at the May Area Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday night.  The group meets once a month and invites May residents to attend.

In the early months of the summer, Director Donna Harris of the Salvation Army Brownwood Service Center had visited the May Neighborhood Watch and spoke on the organization and the soon to be obtained canteen truck.  This was a follow-up visit and the canteen truck’s first trip out.

“I thought coming to this meeting was very appropriate, to show the group the truck since we had told them of our plans to get the canteen at our first visit,” said Harris.  “We served water out of it at the meeting for a training run for Charles Harris (disaster team member) and Paul Coghlan (chair of the Salvation Army advisory board).  We had a good time and also found out that the canteen truck can get up to 70mph, and drives like a truck.”

Neighborhood watch members were very impressed with the canteen.

“I couldn’t believe how much equipment was in such a small place,” said Vella Pallette, member of May Neighborhood Watch.

Harris stated that the May Area Neighborhood Watch is a very devoted, very active group that really works well with other organizations including the May Rodeo Association.  In fact, the rodeo association is now taking up the organization of the area clean up day from the neighborhood watch which has been in charge of the clean up for many years.

“The organization and active role the May Area Neighborhood Watch takes in their community is quite an example,” said Harris.  “They are a wonderful group of people who are very involved in their community.”

The Neighborhood watch also addressed other issues in their area and had Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs at the meeting to speak on criminal activity and BCSO deputies’ work in this area.

Plans for the National Night Out Party, which will be held on Tuesday, October 2, were also discussed.  The May Area National Night Out Party will be held 6-8 PM at the May Community Center Tabernacle with free hot dogs, cookies and drinks. There will be a disc jockey with music and a bounce house for the kids.  This will be a fun time to meet, visit and get to know neighbors.  Those attending are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

The purpose of Neighborhood Watch is to be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood’s safety.

“We have been keeping the Neighborhood Watch program in force for the last eight years or longer,” Pallette said.  “Not to the extent of patrolling as we did at first, as it isn’t needed.  It is much cleaner and there aren’t as many drug problems.  It has been a worthwhile endeavor.”

Pictured above and below are views of the canteen truck.