By Meghan McCormick
Children who dream of climbing through a fire truck or activating the lights and sirens inside a police cruiser can get that chance Saturday at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds.
The fifth annual "Touch a Truck" event will be 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Porter Avenue entrance of the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E. Robinson St.
Joanna Duck, MOMS Club-West representative for "Touch a Truck," said there will be a $2 suggested donation for each child.
"All of the proceeds go to the children's section of the Norman Public Library," she said.
According to a press release, the event is presented by MOMS Club of Norman-West, the city's oldest organization for at-home moms and their children.
Children also can tour the OU Medi Flight helicopter and vehicles from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
"They get to climb in the fire truck, they get to honk the horn, push all the buttons. They get to explore anything that gets to do with that truck," Duck said.
She said "Touch a Truck" isn't limited to emergency vehicles. Families can expect to see a street sweeper truck, sanitation truck, mobile shredder vehicle and many more vehicles.
Duck said what draws people to "Touch a Truck" is that it's a communitywide event.
"What monies are made, go back to our community," she said. "It's tons of fun."
As years pass, the range of vehicles featured at the one-day event grows, Duck said.
"The first year we had 18 trucks, this year we're going to have 39 different kinds of vehicles," she said.
Last year's Touch a Truck hit a new goal of more than 1,300 children and raised $5,200 in ticket sales and donations from local sponsors, Duck said.
According to a press release about the event, sponsors for Touch a Truck are KOKH FOX 25/The CW; Tinker Federal Credit Union; Dolese Bros. Co.; The Norman Transcript; Signs Now; McClain Bank; Blazers Ice Centre; CENTURY 21 Goodyear/Green; Action Printing Inc.; Drs. Eileen Fox and James Fields Pediatrics; Erin Smith, Creative Memories Consultant - 623.3863; Copelin's Office Center; Andy Alligator's Fun Park; Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy; OG--E Electric Services; Dr. Phillip R. Parker - Pediatric Dentist and Orthodontist; Raising Cane's; Balfour of Norman; Irene Fitzgerald, First Mortgage Company; Mr. and Mrs. J. Muehring/Riskmetrics Group; Dana Anderson, Independent Consultant, Tastefully Simple; Ihloff Salon and Day Spa; Barbara W. Wright, M.A., LPC; Julie Elliott and Family; Gymboree Gym; First American Bank; Republic Bank and Trust; Cleveland County Fairgrounds; and the Pioneer Library System
According to the release, in past years, proceeds from Touch a Truck have allowed the library to purchase such items as train tables, furniture, story time rugs and developmental toys for pre-readers.
MOMS Club of Norman-West is part of an international organization designed for women who are available for their children during the day and who are seeking opportunities for support, activities, community service and friendship.
The club offers three local chapters. MOMS Club of Norman-West covers all of Norman west of Flood Street, MOMS Club of Norman-Northeast covers Norman east of Flood Street and north of Main Street/Alameda and MOMS Club of Norman-Southeast covers Norman east of Flood Street and south of Main Street/Alameda.
MOMS Club is an international, IRS-registered, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that can be visited on the Web at www.momsclub.org.
For more information about Touch a Truck or MOMS Club of Norman, call Duck at 701-0161.
Meghan McCormick
366-3539
mmccormick@normantranscript.com
