The fifth annual SYV Touch-A-Truck fundraiser, which gives kids the opportunity to learn first-hand about big trucks and other vehicles, will return to the Bethania Lutheran Church parking lot on Saturday, March 7.

The benefit raises money for the church’s preschool and after-school programs and allows kids and adults to climb onto vehicles and even honk some horns. 

“We are really excited to bring this fun event back, and we are adding in the SYV Cottage Hospital’s Bicycle Safety Booth this year,” said Robyn Moon, event chair. 

Last year’s event included booths and vehicles including construction, farming, recreation and local safety officials such as the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol, which had officers talking about the importance of seatbelts and other safety information. 

Organizers again expect more than 35 vehicles that kids and adults can explore, including trucks, bulldozers, SWAT vehicles and tractors. The owners of the vehicles volunteer at the event throughout the day. 

 There will also be activities such as face painting, bounce houses, a petting zoo and an arts and craft booth. Food concessions will be provided by Tower Pizza of Solvang and Kona Ice of Santa Barbara.

Touch-A-Truck began because of an involved parent who came up with the idea. Lisa Petersen Kekuewa’s son, Koyie, 10, and daughter, Kyla, 5, both benefitted from the preschool’s programs.

“We started this event as a way for the school to have a fundraiser that kids want to go to,” Kekuewa said. “It has really grown. Last year we had over 1,000 people show up.”

This event is certainly not a car show. Climbing on vehicles, sitting in the driver’s seat and honking the horn are all encouraged. Kids can also expect to learn about how the different vehicles work, making the event educational if people want to know more about the rigs.

The event has raised about $8,000 each year, but Kekuewa hopes to raise more than $10,000 this year. Funds from previous events helped build a new playground at the preschool.

Tickets are $5 each or $20 for the family of 5 or more. The event will take place rain or shine.

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Contributing Writer

The fourth annual SYV Touch-A-Truck fundraiser, which gives kids the opportunity to learn first-hand about big trucks and other vehicles, will return to the Bethania Lutheran Church parking lot on Saturday, March 2.

The benefit, which raises money for the church’s preschool and after-school programs, allows kids and adults to climb onto vehicles and even honk some horns.

Last year’s event included a California Highway Patrol booth, which had officers talking about the importance of seatbelts and other safety information.

Organizers expect more than 35 vehicles that kids and adults can explore, including trucks, bulldozers, SWAT vehicles and tractors. The owners of the vehicles volunteer at the event throughout the day.

 There will also be activities such as face painting, bounce houses, a petting zoo and an arts and craft booth. Food concessions will be provided by Tower Pizza of Solvang and Kona Ice of Santa Barbara.

Touch-A-Truck is in its fourth year thanks to an involved parent who came up with the idea. Lisa Petersen Kekuewa’s son, Koyie, 10, and daughter, Kyla, 5, both benefitted from the preschool’s programs.

“We started this event as a way for the school to have a fundraiser that kids want to go to,” Kekuewa said. “It has really grown. Last year we had over 1,000 people show up.”

This event is certainly not a car show. Climbing on vehicles, sitting in the driver’s seat and honking the horn are all encouraged. Kids can also expect to learn about how the different vehicles work, making the event educational if people want to know more about the rigs.

The event has raised about $8,000 each year, but Kekuewa hopes to raise more than $10,000 this year. A new playground was built at the preschool to replace a 17-year-old, dilapidated structure after the first two years of the event. This year’s funds will be combined with last year’s to focus on improving the play structure at the after-school program that provides care for kids in kindergarten through middle school.

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Valley Star Intern

Despite the chance of rain and even some sprinkling, parents and children enjoyed family time at the SYV Touch-A-Truck event March 3 at Bethania Lutheran Church.

The benefit, which raises money for the church’s preschool and after-school programs, allows kids and adults to touch and climb onto vehicles and even honk some horns. They had choices ranging from school buses to police cars to farming equipment to ambulances, all loaned by their owners for the day.

“It’s a good place for the family to get together and the kids to have some fun,” said Camille Locklear, a mother of two who brought her husband and children to the event.

“I like honking and free candy!” said her daughter Ella, 9.

Smiling children and adults looked and touched the vehicles and participated in other activities such as face painting, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and an arts and craft booth. The California Highway Patrol booth incorporated fun and safety education with officers talking about the importance of seatbelts. A Cottage Hospital Trauma Services booth provided bicycle helmets for a deeply discounted $10 each.

After starting with a few vehicles and food stands in its first year, the event now has seemingly countless machines and activities.

Touch-A-Truck is in its third year thanks to an involved parent who came up with the event. Lisa Petersen Kekuewa has her son, Koyie, 9, in the after-school program and her daughter, Kyla, 4, in the preschool.

Three years ago, the school needed funding for a new playground and the after-school program, so Kekuewa organized Touch-A-Truck, inspired by her children’s love for anything with wheels.

The event is intended to inspire children’s and parents’ imaginations while helping them interact with their community and drawing the family together.

“I want the experience to be more than the fundraiser … the event will never go past the fact that it’s for the kids,” Kekuewa said.

The event has raised about $8,000 each year. The last two events paid for a new playground to replace a 17-year-old, dilapidated structure. This year’s funds will be focused on the after-school program that provides care for kindergarten through middle school. The preschool’s administrative board hopes to provide more enrichment programs.

“We live in a great and supportive community. It’s not just the church. It’s a really great outreach for the valley, and it brings the family in and shows it as a supportive place,” said Eileen Knotts, director of the preschool and member of the Bethania Church.

Organizers also expressed their gratitude for the volunteers, sponsors and attendees who made the event successful.

For more information or to donate, send an email to syvtouchatruck@gmail.com.

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Seeing kids coming back each year and running straight to their favorite truck, SWAT vehicle or tractor is one of the highlights of the annual SYV Touch a Truck benefit.

The event, organized by Lisa Petersen Kekuewa, raises money for the Bethania Preschool and after-school programs. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 3, in the Bethania Lutheran Church parking lot.

“It’s such a thrill for these kids to see their favorite vehicles in person and be allowed to crawl all over them. We really appreciate all the people that bring these vehicles and allow them to be seen up close. It’s such a positive event and I get people all year asking me about the next one,” Kekuewa said with a laugh.

The family-friendly event provides a chance for kids, and kids at heart, to climb on, climb into, honk horns and turn on sirens of all kinds of vehicles. The display includes heavy equipment such as excavators, backhoes and farm tractors.

The first hour is best for kids who are sensitive to loud noises, because there will be no horns or sirens during that period, Kekuewa added.

Among the biggest hits each are the emergency vehicles, including a fire truck from the Solvang station of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a police car from the California Highway Patrol, and a sheriff’s motorcycle and SWAT vehicle.

There will also be food provided by Tower Pizza, Face Painting by Crystal, bounce houses by M&J Jumpers, live music, a petting zoo, arts and craft booth, and Safety Day activities, including low-cost bike helmets provided by Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Trauma Services.

“The hospital is amazing for bringing these brand new helmets and selling them for $10 so kids of all backgrounds can have head protection. They sold out last year and I know they will be bringing more this year,” Kekuewa said.

To participate or help sponsor the event, or to get more information, send email to syvtouchatruck@gmail.com.

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