Touch-A-Truck deemed a success
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 28, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Hunter Glisson, 2, sits in the front seat of a Rosewood Fire Department truck at Wayne County Fairgrounds during the second annual Touch-A-Truck. The event, organized by Partnership for Children of Wayne County, has grown in attendance and vehicles since last year.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Jordan Kornegay with Wayne County OES shows Clarie Gassie, 4, some of the supplies stocked on ambulances Saturday during the second annual Touch-A-Truck at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
The second annual Touch-A-Truck event sponsored by the Partnership for Children of Wayne County could be deemed a "huge success" any way you look at it, organizers say.
With more than 90 different vehicles lined up around the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fairgrounds on Saturday, plus vendors and a representation of community agencies, there was something for all ages.
Picture a helicopter landing by Wayne UNC, race cars, dump trucks, firetrucks and other emergency vehicles, construction equipment, the Wayne Community College bison mascot and countless photo opportunities.
"And just the kids blowing the horns," said Valerie Wallace, assistant executive director of the Partnership. "It's just so much fun for the kids."
The first two hours of the event were designated a no-noise time, to accommodate those with noise sensitivities.
Throughout the day there was a steady stream of people, up until the end when it was time to go home.
"Everything came off without a hitch," said Wallace. "We had about 2,500 that came though the gates.
"We couldn't have asked for a better day -- from the weather to the crowd, we had a lot of volunteers and help from community folk, helping with the train and running around to keep the grounds clean."
The success of such an event can be measured in many ways, from the number that showed up to enjoy the festivities to the amount the fundraiser brought in.
But for Wallace and Chrissy Smith, community liaison, there were also a lot of priceless takeaways.
"I have been looking at our Facebook posts -- people were tagging people and saying their kids had such a great time," Wallace said. "One lady said they have to pull (the car) over whenever they see a construction vehicle.
"There were kids going out just crying. It was sad for them (to leave) but for us it was good because that meant they had a good time."
Smith added, "One mom said her child said it was better than Christmas and that he was still talking about it (Monday) morning."
Support from the community, in the form of volunteers as well as sponsorships, was definitely a big help, the women said.
In addition to Wayne UNC, which also provided information on resources and services, Riddle and Brantley sponsored the hot car display, Jackson and Sons provided 200 tickets for those who needed them and Goldsboro Housing Authority also assisted in the distribution of tickets.
"Our sandpile was donated, we had books donated," Wallace added. "It wasn't just people that took time out to bring vehicles."
Preliminary numbers were still being tallied Monday, with an estimated $13,000 generated from the fundraiser, Wallace said.
"It was very successful," she said. "We have heard lots of good things about it."
Without missing a beat, the organizers are already discussing the third installment of the popular event.
"We're taking ideas and starting to run with 2019," Wallace said. "We're already planning and just recapping to see what we can change up, make better. We're looking for new ideas for next year."