This Saturday, kids of all ages will not have to settle for playing with their toy trucks. They will be able to get a feel for the real thing.

The Benicia Moms Group will be hosting its first-ever Touch a Truck fundraiser in the parking lot of Northgate Christian Fellowship, where agencies from throughout the county will have their vehicles parked for kids to feel and ask questions to their operators.

“We were looking for something we could do to raise some money for the Benicia Moms Group that we can also do as a community event,” Laura Munoz, the president of Benicia Moms Group, said.

The group had heard about Touch a Truck events in other communities, and Munoz said one of the members reached out to the Junior League of Sacramento, which had also done a Touch a Truck event, to see how they would go about organizing it.

The event will feature a variety of different trucks and cars from such agencies as the Benicia Police Department, Benicia Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, Republic Services, Romero Towing, Vallejo Medic, the Benicia Post Office and more. Kids will be able to feel the trucks, sit behind the wheels, see the instruments and ask questions of the drivers.

Munoz said the idea is likely to go over well because children at a very young age tend to have a keen fascination with trucks and other large vehicles.

“I know when the garbage truck comes, my little boy gets so excited and runs out there and stands on our porch, waves to the driver and watches the truck pull out our trash and dump it in,” she said. “Here’s a chance where he can get out and touch that truck up close and talk to the guy that drives it.”

Kids will be able to get a demonstration of the lights and horns but only after the first hour. Munoz said the first hour will be lights and horn free out of respect for those on the epilepsy spectrum as well as those who might be intimidated by the lights and sounds.

In addition to the vehicles on display, there will be a variety of other fun activities for kids to do. Bombshell Entertainment will be providing face painting and balloon animals. There will also be a bounce house, an old-fashioned bake sale and hot dogs, chips and soda.

Overall, Munoz believes the event will be a good outing for the children of Benicia as well as their families.

“It’s a chance for kids to meet their hometown heroes,” she said.

Touch a Truck will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 25 in the Northgate Christian Fellowship parking lot, located at 2201 Lake Herman Road. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for family packs. Kids under 2 will get in for free. Tickets can be pre-purchased online at BeniciaMomsGroup.com/touch-a-truck.html. On the day of the event, tickets can be purchased with cash only. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, go to the above link.

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