Falls Township’s sixth annual Touch a Truck fundraiser, which was held recently, was bigger and better than years past, featuring even more large trucks, excavators, towing vehicles, utility trucks, mowers, emergency response vehicles, fire trucks, construction vehicles and heavy machinery.
Hand-in-hand with more vehicles is the addition of several new sponsors, who, with returning sponsors, helped the 2023 Touch a Truck event raise a record-breaking $26,850 for The Barkann Family Healing Hearts Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides financial aid to families throughout the Delaware Valley who are in need due to recent tragedy or adversity.
In all, Falls Township’s Touch a Truck, through its generous sponsors, has contributed more than $85,000 to the Foundation over the last several years. Last year’s Touch a Truck fundraiser generated $20,200 in charitable donations to The Barkann Family Healing Hearts Foundation, which is headed by NBC Sports host, Michael Barkann.
Barkann attended the event, taking photos with fans and sponsors alike.
Spearheaded by Falls Township Supervisor Vice Chairman Jeff Boraski and the township’s Parks and Recreation Department, Touch a Truck provides a unique opportunity for children to learn more about how the various vehicles on display serve as first response, construction, farming, manufacturing and more.
In addition to generous contributions from returning and new sponsors, the event’s success was made possible through the hard work of Falls Township staff and volunteers. Falls Township Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito organized a non-perishable food collection drive as part of the dual event. Dippolito has overseen a year-round food drive benefiting local food pantries for the last several years.
Falls Township’s Public Works Department purchased and outfitted a kid-sized truck that was raffled off during the event. Public Works Director Jason Lawson said he plans to offer another truck giveaway next year as well. Touch a Truck featured police and fire vehicles, as well as two school buses, a tanker from the Township of Falls Authority, and Falls Township mowers and trucks.