EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville Township’s 7th Annual Touch-A-Truck event will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, October 16 at Edwardsville Township Community Park, 6368 Center Grove Road. Nearly 25 vehicles will be on-site for children to explore throughout the day. We have implemented COVID-19 protections to try to keep attendees and participants safe.
During the event, children are able to explore a wide range of nearly 25 vehicles. Some of this year’s lineup includes:
- Two helicopters and an ambulance from SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital;
- Fire trucks from both the City of Edwardsville & Village of Glen Carbon, & an ambulance from Edwardsville
- A monster truck from Dex’s Tree Service;
- Tow trucks from Cross Auto Body and Towing of Edwardsville;
- Box trucks from Tiger Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning;
- A 24’ flat-bed boom truck from R.P. Lumber;
- A garbage truck from Republic Services;
- A crane, forklift & skidsteer from Waggoner Equipment
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The free, family-oriented event, which has happened every year since 2014 (except in 2020 due to the pandemic), is open to the public. Each year, Touch-A-Truck brings thousands of people to the Park throughout the day.
“After missing last year’s event, the Board of Trustees and I are excited to have this community event back for 2021, said Edwardsville Township Supervisor Kevin Hall. “We know COVID is a big concern for parents, and are doing what we can to ease concerns and make the event as safe as possible. We strongly encourage everyone to wear a mask, since this is a kids' event and most still cannot receive the vaccine. We will have hand sanitizer between each vehicle station, encourage social distancing between families, and be implementing a one-way traffic flow to help.”
“The Board of Trustees and I are very encouraged by the tremendous community support we’ve received,” said Edwardsville Township Supervisor Kevin Hall. “We’re grateful for the interest and enthusiasm this event has generated from the entire community. This is seen in the form of businesses generously sponsoring and attending this event, the vehicle participants, and the many volunteers and Township staff who are spending their time at the Park on Saturday.”
More than 45 companies and organizations are sponsoring this year’s event. Top sponsors that are providing free event parking and shuttle service to and from Edwardsville High School and Metro East Lutheran High School parking lots are:
- SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and JF Electric of Edwardsville are Bulldozer sponsors, making donations of $2,000 or more;
- Big Rig sponsors making donations of $1,000 include Arrow Truck Sales and 1st MidAmerica Credit Union
This year’s Touch-A-Truck will feature several fun children’s activities, including:
- Painting wooden trucks provided by Denali Paint
- An obstacle course and fun tae kwon do activities provided by Blue Wave Martial Arts & Fitness of Edwardsville
- STEM Lab trailer, Gaga Pit activities, and tents provided by the Boy Scouts of America Greater St. Louis Area Council;
- Imagination Blocks from the Edwardsville Children’s Museum.
STL Photo Party, a local photo booth rental company, will again be on-site offering free event day photos that will be directly uploaded to Facebook.
Families and kids are encouraged to check out many vehicles they see every day and others that are not often accessible. Emergency vehicles, farm equipment, antique tractors, boom trucks, line trucks, and more are open to young explorers all day. Local companies will be handing out free merchandise to attendees while supplies last.
To help give back to the community, attendees are encouraged to bring pantry stable items and unused diapers to the Township Booth at the entrance to assist in our Thanksgiving baskets and pantry for those in need.
Edwardsville High School’s Interact Club, Father McGivney, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Rotaract Club, Kappa Delta Pi, Alliance of Students Against Poverty, Epsilon Sigma Alpha will have volunteers on-site assisting with activities and helping throughout the day.
Sugar Fire BBQ, Homestyle Grill, and Mahalo Shaved Ice will have a variety of lunch and snack options available for purchase during the festivities.
Donations collected through sponsorships are invested in the community to help area seniors and families in need. For more information, please contact Adam Colvin at the Edwardsville Township office at (618) 656-0292.
Edwardsville Township is comprised of the City of Edwardsville, Village of Glen Carbon, and unincorporated areas just outside of these two municipalities. The Township Supervisor’s office is located at 300 West Park in Edwardsville and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Learn more about Edwardsville Township online at www.edwardsvilletownship.com or contact the Township Offices by phone at 618-656-0292.
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