INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — With still two hours to go, roughly 3,000 people had already passed through the gates of the Indian River County Fairgrounds for the annual Touch a Truck Family Festival to benefit Childcare Resources of Indian River, where 50 cars and trucks gleamed brightly under a brilliant blue sky.
“It’s been a steady stream all morning; we had them lined up all the way out to the cars,” said board member Nancy Hopwood, watching as eager children encouraged parents and grandparents to hurry up, because they didn’t want to miss a thing.
“This year we have more trucks and we have more activities inside,” said event chair Anthony Dzielski.
Board president Carolyn Veeneman had a laugh when Dzielski added, “Home Depot is doing a bang up job.”
The Home Depot activity area in the blissfully air-conditioned indoor pavilion is always a busy one. Children made good use of the bright orange aprons they were given as they busily hammered together and painted little wooden tool boxes. Quieter crafts included making 18-wheelers out of paper towel holders and aluminum foil, and creating spin art and magnets.
Organizers took the suggestion of parents of younger children to heart. After learning that the exceptionally loud blasts from truck horns were frightening to younger children, they advertised that the first hour of the event would be horn free this year.
“We got a great response from that,” said Dzielski.
He also pointed out that presenters have become more creative, with many offering games, activities and giveaways. All of which came in handy as children patiently waited their turn to board the various vehicles.
Trucks of every shape, size and purpose were included in the mix, including several lovingly maintained vintage varieties, and no parts were off-limits for the children to explore.
Police and fire and disaster relief vehicles were parked alongside construction, food transport and agricultural trucks. Collision and tow trucks, moving trucks and cement mixers mixed it up with race cars and an up-armored Humvee, complete with gun turret, on loan from the Navy SEAL Museum. All had their doors thrown open for kids to climb aboard, toot the horns and play make believe.
New this year was the Fun Bus, a children’s fitness program with a mobile gym on-board, and one from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute’s Marine Mammal Rescue Unit, complete with a life-sized dolphin stuffed animal.
Other outdoor activities included a petting zoo of animals from LaPorte Farms, the ever popular bounce houses, and PNC Bank’s Mobile Learning Adventure, with a variety of game stations and photo opportunities.
Back inside, a toddler zone was a hubbub of constant motion, as tykes scrambled around the floor playing with every type of toy truck and car imaginable.
“Some of these little ones need a break from the heat; they don’t last long outside,” said Sara Williams, watching her adorable 20-month-old son Joey, who was completely enthralled. “He loves trucks; this is what my kitchen floor looks like.”
Childcare Resources of Indian River celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2014, working to ensure that local working families have access to high quality, affordable early childcare through its own Education Center and in partnership with other local childcare centers.
