Kids sit inside a Huey helicopter during last year’s Touch-a-Truck event at Mt. Auburn Church in Greenwood.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Something pretty awe-inspiring would be needed to overshadow the flashing red lights of the fire engines, the revving motors of the police vehicles and the massive earth movers planned at Mt. Auburn Church’s annual Touch-a-Truck event.
The arrival of a restored Huey helicopter tends to do it, though.
“It’s going to do a fly-around of the trip, and we’ve got eight selective VIPs who get to ride in the helicopter,” said Phil Howard, who is spearheading the event for the church.
Kids and kids-at-heart can satisfy their love of big trucks, boats, flying machines and more at Mt. Auburn on Saturday, as the Center Grove-area congregation brings back its Touch-A-Truck event. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., people are invited to come see hard-working vehicles from around the county, as well as snack on food and drinks, take part in a scavenger hunt and receive souvenirs — all for free.
But while all of the attention will be on the massive fire engines and antique tractors, everyone who takes part in the event will be doing their part to address hunger throughout Johnson County. The only cost of admission is canned and non-perishable food items, to be donated to the Interchurch Food Pantry and the Lord’s Locker in Trafalgar.
“You’ll see families walking in, carrying bags of canned goods,” Howard said. “It’s an easy way for families to do a good thing for the community.”
This will be the fourth year for Mt. Auburn’s Touch-a-Truck event. Church leaders first envisioned it as a way to reach out to the community, particularly families with young children.
The event became a project of the church’s men’s ministry group, which has grown it in scope and size ever since, Howard said. During 2022’s Touch-a-Truck, more than 2,500 people attended. Organizers gave out 500 hard hats to children, 1,100 snow cones and 700 hot dogs and hamburgers.
They are planning for 2,500 and as many as 3,000 to come this time around, Howard said.
The church decided to weave in the food drive element to help those in need around the county while they held a fun community event.
“Mt. Auburn has supported the Interchurch Food Pantry and Lord’s Locker for years. When we were doing some planning, the idea of bringing some food as a little admittance, seemed like a good one,” Howard said.
Every child who arrives at the church will receive a hard hat, as well as a map of the campus — letting them know where the construction trucks, the public safety vehicles, and other activities are located. On the back, organizers have put together a scavenger hunt for them.
“They’re required to get signatures at some of the vehicle sites, and five of the ministry sites, and when they leave, we give them a Touch-a-Truck t-shirt,” Howard said.
Fire and police departments from communities throughout county are scheduled to appear with their trucks, as well as agencies such as the Indiana State Police, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and Center Grove Police Department, which is bringing a K9 officer with them.
A special treat is planned to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Farmall tractors. A family within the Mt. Auburn congregation has about 30 of the historic machines, and will bring them for people to look at during the event, Howard said.
Historic cars, such as 1929 Model A Ford, are also supposed to be part of the fun. The Center Grove Robotics Team will allow kids to play with different robots.
“The come in, they get their hard-hats and maps, and they can wander the property, eat some hot dogs and hamburgers, and just have fun,” he said.
IF YOU GO
Touch-a-Truck
What: A free community event offering up-close experiences with a variety of big vehicles, food, drinks, kids’ souvenirs and a scavenger hunt. People are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for admittance.
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mt. Auburn Church, 3100 W. Stones Crossing Road, Greenwood
Information: mountauburn.church/touch-a-truck
