The John H. Kenzie Elementary School parking lot was vibrating with shouts from children and excitement from all the honking and climbing of a variety of city-related work vehicles at the 13th Ward’s annual Touch-A-Truck.
It wasn’t just the kids having fun, but it was the parents, grandparents, and residents of all ages coming together Sept. 18 for an evening of community, exploration, learning, and fun.
Garfield Ridge and Clearing children had the opportunity to explore, get behind the steering wheel, and ask questions about many of the vehicles they see operating in our city of Chicago.
Children saw the service vehicles, snow plows, Chicago police cars and fire engines, garbage trucks, cranes, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad.
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, like it has done at previous events, supported Touch-A-Truck by providing free food and beverages to all participants.
Alderman Marty Quinn (13th), organizer and sponsor of Touch-A-Truck, said, “This is our fifth year doing Touch-A-Truck. It’s a great example of our community coming together. Being able to provide good opportunities for the youth. I credit Tricia and the Chicago Park District, all of the different entities and departments that came out and gave us this big showing. We have great participation; it’s a celebration of and for our community.”
Touch-A-Truck brought many community residents and stakeholders together for an evening under the sun, with the chance of not only coming together but partaking in a cool event that promotes learning and gives children a hands-on experience to touch trucks that go up and down our neighborhoods while also meeting the men and women who drive them and the roles they play in our community.
Tricia Orszula, Wentworth Park supervisor and one of many sponsors for Touch-A-Truck, said, “I got this idea for Touch-A-Truck from the suburbs. Why do we have to go to the suburbs for all of these events? So, I knew that I had to bring this to our side of the city. It’s a great opportunity for children to get behind the steering wheel of all of these vehicles.”
Oftentimes, it feels like the suburbs of Chicago have more to do than our neighborhood. It’s always refreshing and encouraging to hear our community stakeholders want to bring and sponsor those events for our community children. So that residents do not have to drive a half hour or more out to gain these experiences
Chicago Fire Station 32 Lt. David Pae shared that this was his first year at Touch-A-Truck and appreciated being able to share in this event for the community, its youth, and that it was “good community relations.”
Many of our local first responders were there, including 8th District police and CAPS officers, which made the night feel extra safe. Kudos to them for always looking out for our community and their continuing effort to serve and protect.
Touch-A-Truck was sponsored by Quinn, state Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar, state Sen. Mike Porifio, Chicago Park District, Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, Midway Chamber of Commerce, 8th District Police District Council, Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, and Happy Jacks.
