Kids Get in Touch With Big Trucks

Usually the trucks children play with are plastic and come with "Small Parts" warning labels, but at this year's "Touch a Truck" event, the kids of Greenwich got a hands-on experience with the real thing.

The 8th annual fundraising event, held this year on June 13 at Greenwich Town Hall, was benefits the sponsors—the Junior League of Greenwich, an organization of committed to developing the potential of women and improving the community through volunteerism.

"Touch a Truck" gives children a chance to explore heavy machinery and meet the people who own and operate big rigs.

"It's such a natural fit, young kids and the ability to actually go in, climb, explore, honk the horn and get their hands on these big rigs," said Cathy Kreppein, the fundraising director of the Junior League of Greenwich.

Tania Priatka, the co-chairwoman of the "Touch a Truck" committee said, "We're really thrilled to be part of the Greenwich community and offering this event every year to people in the town. It's more our 'friend-raiser.' It's one time when we're able to give the community just a really fun thing to do. People look forward to it."

When children were finished honking the horns in big rigs, pretending to operate bulldozers and taking turns riding the cherry picker, they could bounce for hours in the "Awesome Inflateables Zone" provided by Cunningham Aquatics, see the exotic animal show in the Party Safari Animal Tent, or take in some live children's music with The Bossy Frog Band.

"We came here at 10 and had to come back," said Ye Un-Joo Lee with her husband Andew Parmet and their children Sarah and Jamie. "Their favorite part was the bouncy castle, so now we're enjoying the trucks."

Fred N. Durante Jr. Inc and Ray's Construction Expert Masonry supplied most of the the trucks. The various trucks brought to the event provided fun exposure to kids who had never seen construction vehicles up close.

"This is Vegas for kids," said Kerry Strassel who was with her children Reagan and Ryan. "They loved all the trucks. They just moved here from the city so this was a great event to have friends come up and visit. It's just great, there's something for everyone to do and they did absolutely everything."

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