E.L. Parks and Recreation Department- Invaluable to Touch A Truck

East Lyme Parks and Recreation Department- an Invaluable Component of Touch A Truck

Come to East Lyme Touch-A-Truck

by June Hoye

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, the Thames West Auxiliary of Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut and the East Lyme Parks and Recreation Department will co-sponsor the Thirteenth Touch A Truck, a family event that will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at McCook Point Park in Niantic, CT. There will be a Horn Free Hour from 9 to 10 a.m. especially for the younger set and for noise-sensitive children.

The East Lyme Parks and Recreation Department is ably led by Dave Putnam who will be on hand to pass out information on the Parks and Recreation Programs and Special Events. Be sure to stop by to chat with him

When the first TAT was proposed in 2007, by Wendy Nielsen, she and her co-chair, Terry Merola, went to propose the idea to Dave Putnam. He immediately thought the idea was fantastic. Wendy has said that, “Working with Dave has always been wonderful. Whatever we suggested, he was willing to find a way to make it happen. In addition, he also had great suggestions as to how to improve the event.”

Dave has always been committed to Touch A Truck, even when that meant considerably more work for his department. The Parks and Recreation Department, under his leadership, has been an invaluable help with staging the complete event. They help with delivering tables and chairs, moving picnic tables, making electricity available to the “chefs”, and generally making sure each activity area has what it needs. Then, when the event is over, they must pick up all the tables and chairs, empty all the trash, and collect the equipment for parking such as traffic cones, sawhorses and traffic safety vests. Without their co-operation, this event would not be possible.

In addition, Dave will proudly be displaying the Department’s maintenance equipment for the children to learn more about specialized machinery; Dave has also helped arrange for Public Works trucks to be on display. We will eternally be in the debt of Dave, who will be retiring in September. We wish him well in his new endeavors.

The requested donation to benefit the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut is $5 per person with children under age two admitted free of charge. Proceeds benefit the work of Child & Family Agency of Southeastern CT as it annually meets the needs of over seven thousand children and their families in our communities.

Additional information can be found on the Agency’s website, www.childandfamilyagency.org; or by calling Child and Family-860-437-4550, ext. 1406.

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