CLAY COUNTY – Don’t let the sight of flashing lights and the sound of sirens fool you. Saturday’s Touch A Truck at the Clay County Fairgrounds will be a family-friendly event that allows children to exchange their customary playground equipment for an opportunity to climb aboard big trucks, tractors, ambulances, police cars, a helicopter, cranes and fire engines.

In addition to several disaster and emergency agencies will set up their informational tents to educate the public on disaster preparedness and how they help us during these times, the Clay County District Schools will be collecting back-to-school supplies with its Stuff-The-Bus program.

Festivities will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with quiet time being observed during the first two hours for sensitive ears.

Municipal, county and state vehicles and equipment will be on display for families to get up close and personal with these critical community assets. First responders and equipment operators will be onsite to answer questions and showcase how the vehicles are used every day in the community.

County Emergency Management Director John Ward led the planning and organizing effort for this event.

“We really enjoy bringing Touch a Truck events to Clay County,” he said. “This type of event is a great opportunity for parents to get the emergency preparedness information they need to protect their families, and for kids to meet the police, firefighters, and other public service professionals serving their community. And, with the variety of activities for all ages, It’s a fun day for the whole family with minimal cost.”

There will be a free kids activity zone with water slides, bounce houses, bungee jumping and a rock-climbing wall. Food trucks will provide kid-friendly meals for purchase.

Touch a Truck is presented by the county commission, Clay County Fire Rescue, Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Office, Florida Health-Clay County, DebrisTech, Eisman & Russo Engineering and Construction Management and CrowderGulf Disaster Recovery and Debris Management.

“You know, it’s, it’s a very kid friendly event,” Sheriff Michelle Cook said. “And I think anytime that we as a community can take an opportunity for our children in our community to have a positive interaction, whether it’s law enforcement, the utilities or, you know, fire rescue, just an opportunity to have a positive interaction with kids to continue to build the great relationships that we have.”

At the same time, the Clay County District Schools will host a “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive.

School supply donations will go to support students and teachers at Title I schools in the district. The most needed items are pencils, pens, markers, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, binders, three-prong folders, dry erase markers, headphones and notebook paper.

Organizers also are looking for volunteers to help set up and take down exhibits, clean up, greeting guests and parking.

Volunteers will be scheduled in shifts, so please register for the time that best fits your schedule. Participants under 18 years of age may submit a parental consent form to volunteer without an adult.