Beep beep! Kiddos coming through!

The Child Development Laboratory (CDL) from the Department of Human Development & Family Studies hosted a touch a truck event for daycare attendees, youngsters up to age 5, thanks to a few of F&S’ vehicles.

“If you know children, trucks are a huge interest of young children in the age we serve at CDL (6 weeks to 5 years),” said Molly Harmon, child development coordinator at CDL. “We wanted to create a hands-on experience for our children and families to explore a variety of trucks that they see often throughout the community.”

F&S’ Shawn Patterson, associate director of fleet services, and Andrew Moore, operating engineers foreperson, arranged to get eight utility trucks and massive earth-movers for about 140 kids to explore; plus family members and daycare specialists. Vehicles operated by grounds, electricians, operating engineers, and the waste transfer station were on the scene.

The children sat in the bucket of a front-loader, safely climbed in and out of drivers seats, and tried on hard hats and reflective vests.

A U. of I. Police Department officer, Michael Mitrou was present, as well, with his K9 Rosie, and the College of ACES provided a ninth vehicle.

“I cannot thank F&S enough for all the effort they put in to making this event a success,” Harmon said. “From the moment that I had the idea to create this event until the end of the event, F&S employees helped me plan and organize this event to be sure that I had a safe area to set up and get a fun variety of trucks. Shawn and Andrew even stayed the whole time to help educate the children about the trucks and helped them explore the many buttons and horns on the trucks. We cannot wait to collaborate with them again!”