Touch A Truck

Touch A Truck: A Community Affair

by June Hoye

It takes a Community - Truckers , Business Sponsors, Community Organizations, Community Volunteers, High School Volunteers, Town Employees from Parks & Recreation, Public Works, E.L. Fire Department, E.L. Police, and , of course, the Child and Family Auxiliary Volunteers- all of whom make Touch A Truck possible.

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 event 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. Even though the event is sponsored by these two groups, the undertaking is truly a Community Affair.

Many Truckers have participated each year that the event has been held. We can always count on Guy’s Oil, W. J Tree, Safe Lawns of Salem, Rogovin Moving & Storage, NPL Construction, and W.J. Tree. Back for their third year will be the LAZ parking shuttle, whose busses will take and return patrons from the Satellite Lot at Niantic Center School and Telaid to McCook Park. One newcomer, Monaco Ford, will be bringing various new Fords. Since many others are in the process of signing on, we hope to have at least 45 vehicles for the children to explore.

In addition, our Community Organization Volunteers are a vital part of the event. Returning again will be the Niantic Rotary with Amber Alert- their project to safeguard children. This program is a voluntary nationwide partnership to combat child abduction by providing immediate descriptive information to law enforcement to aid in a child’s safe recovery. The East Lyme Lions Club, which is famous for its Kettle Corn Booth, will also be back with its tantalizing aroma, enticing people from all over the park.

Other community volunteers include John Wilson of Signcraft in Niantic, the designer of our advertising signs, our logo, and the decals for the 1,250 Fire Chief hats. In addition, for many years, Architect Brian Schuch has drawn the facilities map in the program booklet, directing patrons to the various locations. Both Telaid and the Niantic Center School have graciously allowed us to use their lots for satellite parking.

In keeping with our Community support, the event is also Inter-generational. Students from the ELHS Drama Program will delight the children throughout the park as they portray - in costume - Bob the Builder. In addition, the Leos of East Lyme High School will assist all day with activities and parking.

In addition to trucks, visitors will be delighted with the many attractions of Touch A Truck. LIFE STAR helicopter, a perennial favorite, will be paying a visit. The military will be well represented with vehicles from the National Guard, and both vehicles and boats from the Navy and the Coast Guard. The Roaming Railroad, for a nominal charge, will be transporting children and adults around the park, and the Balloon Man will be on hand to delight the children with free balloon-animals of every type. Q-105 will be on hand, broadcasting about these many activities of TAT. Finally, Food Trucks will be available for both Breakfast and Lunch.

This event could not take place without the dedicated support of Dave Putnam, the East Lyme Director of Parks and Recreation. His department, an invaluable component of staging the complete event, helps with delivering tables and chairs, moving picnic tables, making electricity available to the cooks, and generally making sure each activity area has what it needs. The cooperation of the Parks and Recreation Department makes this event possible

Finally, the volunteers of the Thames West Auxiliary of Child and Family, led by our incomparable chairperson-Sally Myers, have worked hundreds of hours to organize and facilitate this iconic event for children and families.

The suggested donation is $5 per person (ages 2 and up) to benefit Child and Family Agency of Southeastern CT, Inc., which has been at the forefront of social service development in southern and eastern Connecticut since 1972. The Agency’s services are changing the lives of 7,400 children, families, and adults annually through behavioral and physical health care services, childcare, and family resources. Visit the CFA website to learn more about the Agency-www.childandfamilyagency.org

People who are interested in joining the Thames West CFA Volunteers should call Child and Family Agency at 860-437-4550, extension 1406.

Follow us on our Facebook page, ‘Touch A Truck East Lyme, CT’ to learn more about our activities.

Truckers, Sponsors, Community Organizations, Community Volunteers, High School Volunteers, Town Employees, and Child and Family Volunteers- all will have participated to bring Touch A Truck to life. Don’t miss this Community Affair.