An event where your kids can touch EVERYTHING!
Join Sweet Dreams Foundation, Sweet Dreams Homemade Ice Cream of Gainesville and Gainesville Fire Rescue on May 19th, 2012 for the 3rd Annual Sweet Dreams’ Touch-A-Truck event. Touch-A-Truck will occur at Citizens Field from 9am - 2pm. From 9am - 10am will be a quiet time for younger children to enjoy the vehicles without the noise of horns, sirens, bullhorns, etc.
At Touch-A-Truck, citizens will be able to get up close to the large vehicles they may frequently see on the roadways. Children will have opportunity to climb into and/or on vehicles and to talk with the drivers. They will learn about the vehicles and pedestrian safety around large vehicles. Touch-A-Truck provides children with a hands-on educational experience about their community.
The admission is free. There will be a minimal charge for some activities such as a dunking booth, bounce houses, face painting and food. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.
The first 500 children will have the opportunity to be fitted with a brand new bicycle helmet courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to Schools Grant (with fittings provided by Gainesville Fire Rescue).
Keep reading to learn about the local childrens organizations this event is raising money and supplies for!
Touch-a-Truck Has Moved!
We moved next to Citizens Field! Come see us at the MLK State Park behind the Northeast Pool this year. The preferred access to the event is NE 13th Street and NE 8th Avenue.
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Children's Miracle Network at Shands
Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida is the local, Children's Miracle Network participating hospital for the Gainesville/North Central Florida, Tallahassee/South Georgia and West Palm Beach areas.
The mission of the Children's Miracle Network is to build awareness and raise funds for hospitalized children. The purpose of the organization is to help advance healthcare for children in our local community.
Food4Kids Backpack Program
Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida provides food to children who are at risk of hunger on the weekends. Rolling backpacks are distributed at school each Friday to the identified child and returned on Monday to be refilled. Over 19% of Alachua County's children are affected by poverty and live in food instable homes. The program currently targets children who are "chronically hungry" and are referred into the program.
Suggested Food Donations:
- Canned Meat (tuna, chicken, etc.)
- Canned Veggies & Beans
- Canned Pasta (Spaghettios, etc.)
- Canned Soup (Chicken noodle/vegetable)
- Juice Boxes/Pouches
- Fruit & Pudding cups
- Breakfast Items (oatmeal packets, breakfast bars, single serving cereals)
- Snack bars (granola, etc.)
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Snacks (single servings of raisins, pretzels, animal crackers, etc.)
- Milk- shelf stable
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
(Shortages typically include: raisins, pudding, granola bars, juice boxes, & canned pasta)
Sweet Dreams' Touch a Truck event is an official drop off location for food donations. Please help to make this food drive successfull by bringing one or more of the items listed above to this event!
If you are interested in donating additional food, click here to learn about donation drop-off locations. If you would like to help out by volunteering, click here to get involved.
Thank You for Your Contributions!
