The city of Selma is planning a community fun day just before school starts back.

The first annual “Selma Public Safety River Rally and Community Funday” will be held Aug. 5 from 4-7 p.m. at the Riverfront Amphitheater where there will be free food, games, music, school supplies and more.

“[The staff] sat down and we talked and we just tried to find ways to get public safety more in action with the public,” said Selma Mayor Darrio Melton. “We plan on making this an annual event, a big, huge event for the community to come out to build relationships with law enforcement as well as the opportunity for the community to have social networking bonding with people throughout the community.”

The police department, fire department and more public safety entities will be in attendance to meet and greet the community in which they serve.

“I think it’s very significant that we have relationships outside of calling 9-1-1,” Melton said.

“I think it will go a long way with people feeling more open to discuss different issues in the community or concerns in their community.”

Melton said they are also calling on business and individuals in the community to sponsor games and activities at the event.

“We have a whole list of games that we’re asking people to sponsor,” he said. “They can also be creative and create their own games, or add to the list that we have.”

Those interested in sponsoring a game can call Saprina Simmons, executive assistant to Melton, at (334) 874-2101.

“We’re expecting it to be a grand event and so far, we’re getting a lot of buy-in,” Melton said. “We’re partnering with businesses and asking them to participate in this event.”

In addition to the free games and food, Melton said they’ll also be handing out school supplies to children heading back to school in August.

“We’ll also be using this as a back to school event and we’ll be giving out school supplies,” Melton said. “We’re just looking forward to people coming out and having fun before they have to go back to school and moving toward the last days of summer.”

Melton said he and his staff are looking forward to the event and getting the community out together.

“We are looking forward to it, Aug. 5 can’t get here fast enough,” Melton said. “We just believe that it will be a grand event and an opportunity for us to have more of a community event for people from different wards to come together and have a great time in downtown Selma on the riverfront.”

Melton said he is also hoping that people from all over Selma will attend the rally.

“It’s important that people from every ward, every background, every age group to come out and have fun and participate and have social interaction,” Melton said.

“We’re very focused on using every outlet that we have to reach out to individuals to invite them out.”