School is out for the summer and the kids are ready for some fun.
Load the kids up and head on over to the Brown County Music Center’s parking lot this weekend to touch a truck and have fun. The event is free, but donations will also be accepted to help support the Brown County Weekend Backpacks program.
The third Touch-A-Truck event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25.
At this free event, everyone can see, touch and explore their favorite big trucks and learn what they do, how they work and help the Brown County community.
“The Backpacks committee is excited to host this fun event after a two-year absence due to the pandemic,” said Debbie Kelley, event organizer for the program.
“We’ve been able to add several new vehicles, including bucket trucks and digger trucks, plus fire trucks from all six of our volunteer fire departments, a school bus, concrete mixer, semis, motorcycles, jeeps, military trucks and tractors.”
The music center’s parking lot is bigger than the previous location and will provide closer parking options for participants.
“Christian Webb, executive director of the music center has been an exceptional partner for the event,” Kelley said.
“Their beautiful property and location will make the event feel even more Brown County.”
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. is “quiet hour,” where big motors, sirens, horns and other loud noises will not be permitted, so anyone sensitive to loud noises can enjoy the event.
Admission is free because organizers did not want a charge to keep families from attending, but donations will be accepted with all proceeds going to buy food to send home with children in the Weekend Backpacks program. Suggested donations for those who can afford it are $5 per person or $15 per family.
Should inclement weather prevent the program from proceeding, the event will be held on June 26.
This year’s event is presented by Duke Energy and SCI REMC.
“SCI REMC’s Operation RoundUp is proud to support the efforts of the Brown County Weekend Backpack Program. Through this program and the work of volunteers in the community, they are reaching students in need and providing nutritious weekend meals,” said Tammy Haenlein, member services manager with SCI REMC.
Other sponsors include Brown-Meadows Properties, Kelley Rentals and the Thompsons as platinum sponsors; C&C Equipment and Good Life Advisors as gold sponsors; RE/MAX Team is a silver sponsor; and Chamblee Architects, Keyed IN Property Mgt. and Pit Bull Leather are bronze sponsors.
“We are grateful for the support of our event sponsors,” said Jan Swigert, Brown County Weekend Backpacks president. “Without the financial support of the event sponsors, we would not have the funds needed to purchase the food for the weekend meals distributed to needy Brown County children.”
Kelley said the weekend backpacks program is important because “no child should go to bed hungry.” Plus, eating well on weekends helps kids come to school on Monday ready to learn, she said.
“Our goal is keeping hungry children fed with nutritious food all weekend long,” Kelley said.
The backpack program serves more than 100 children weekly during the school year and packed more than 16,000 meals in the last school year. Each child receives four breakfast items, two lunch items, four dinner items and two snacks each weekend at no cost.
Retired teachers started the program in 2013 after noticing a need: Breakfast and lunch is provided at school during weekdays, but weekends are not covered.
Brown County churches, Brown County Rotary Club and individual donations cover about half of the food needed, but more than $15,000 of additional food must be purchased each year for the program. Kelley hopes to raise $10,000 with the Touch-A-Truck event.
Among the vehicles that will be available for kids to check out are an ambulance, bucket trucks, dump trucks, fire trucks, a forklift, tractors, motorcycle, military truck, concrete mixer, school bus, semis, police and sheriff’s vehicles, Jeeps, Tesla and a Porsche sports car.
All vehicles will be open to explore. In addition, the Brown County Public Library will be enrolling children in their summer reading program and will hand out free books to children.
Kelley said none of the people, businesses and organizations are being paid for bringing the vehicles to the event, and all expenses are covered by event sponsors.
“Food insecurity is an issue in many, if not all, communities,” said Bruce Calloway, Duke Energy’s government and community relations manager.
“Duke Energy is proud to support the efforts of Brown County Weekend Backpacks to address this with students.”
