Ready To Touch-A-Truck? PS 295 Fundraiser Returns Saturday
We’ve got a soggy forecast on the horizon, but skies are looking bright and sunny for PS 295’s popular spring fundraiser, Touch-a-Truck, set to take place on Saturday, May 17, from 12-5pm.
Not familiar with Touch-a-Truck? We caught up with PTA president Amy Janzen to learn a bit more about the fun family event, what trucks to expect this year, and how monies raised will help fund educational support at PS 295.
SSN: How would you describe Touch-a-Truck for those who have never attended?
Amy Janzen: We get this question all the time. Literally… you come and you touch trucks. It’s that simple. For kids, though, it’s a pretty mind-blowing experience — they can’t get enough!
We have about 25 different trucks and vehicles parked on the street. Each truck has its owner/driver onsite and kids line up to touch them, climb in the driver’s seat (if that’s allowed — we leave that up to each truck), look at all their cool truck parts, compare notes with their little buddies, and get photographed by their parents, of course — one of these years we have to set up a charging station for all the batteries that get drained over the course of the day. We do ask, though, that kids PLEASE NOT HONK THE HORN.
We also have a DJ, bouncy houses, and a quieter art/chill zone for kids (and parents!) who need a break from some of the excitement. Think of it as a block party with trucks.
What trucks can we look forward to this year? Are there any new additions?
We always have our must-haves: fire trucks, ambulances, cherry pickers, police cars, sanitation trucks, the Sean Casey Animal Rescue Truck, the Army Humvee. This year, we have some really cool additions: Mike’s Tool Sharpening Truck and the Big Sasco Excavator.
We hear there are also food trucks…
We live in NYC. We can’t have an event for trucks and not have some of NYC’s best food trucks! We feel so fortunate to count many of these as participants in our event for all four years. This year, the line-up includes:
Amazing authentic Greek street food from Souvlaki GR.
Gourmet Colombian fusion street food from Palenque.
Distinctive fare from the innovative and contemporary Kimchi Taco Truck.
The cheesy comfort food and home cooking from Gorilla Cheese NYC.
Delicious sweets from The Treats Truck.
NYC’s favorite creamy frozen yogurt from The Yogo Truck.
Our food truck court is set up in the area between the school and Slope Park (where the PS 295 Farmers Market is on Thursday afternoons — we re-open for the season May 29), with lots of tables for people to sit and enjoy some of the best food the city has to offer.
Is there a particular age range the event is geared toward?
Our sweet spot is definitely toddlers through third graders. Although both adult men and women are also quite enthusiastic about getting their pictures taken and talking to the drivers. It’s a great day for the volunteers, too (parents as well as teachers and staff) — it’s like inviting the neighborhood over for a huge party.
What is the cost of admission, and what is included in the ticket price?
The cost of admission is $8 for one person; $15 for two people. So a family of four would pay $30. Infants worn by an adult are free. You can spend all five hours at the event for that price. The food, merchandise, and bouncy houses are additional — very reasonable — fees.
How does PS 295 use the funds raised at Touch-a-Truck?
The first year we did the event, we had no idea what to expect — we were just hoping to make enough for the day to have been worthwhile. We were blown away by how many people came, and by the time the dust settled we realized we’d raised enough to pay a part-time teacher’s salary, which helped us deal with crowded fourth and fifth grade classes by having that teacher pull kids out in smaller groups throughout the week. (As a bonus, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz turned up at the event, asked why we never asked him for money, got that conversation started… and came through a few weeks later with a grant for us to buy smart boards).
In the years since, we’ve continued to use Touch-a-Truck to pay a part-time salary, most recently for a school-wide literacy and math coach to help us support struggling learners.
Anything else you’d like neighbors to know about this year’s event?
While it’s a fundraiser for PS 295, we feel really proud of the fact that it’s become a true community event that so many people from all of the boroughs want to attend. For many, it symbolizes the start of spring. This is our fourth year and we’re still making improvements so that it’s fresh and fun for people who are newbies this year or who have come in the past. It’s fun, it’s affordable, and it’s a great way to hang out with all of our community. Come by and say hi!
Touch-a-Truck will take place on 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues (rain or shine). For more information, visit the PS 295 website.
Lead photo via PS 295
