He teamed up with Sheriff Wes Tripp and the free event will be held Saturday at the Roanoke Rapids Theatre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We have several trucks from fire departments, police departments. DOT (the state Department of Transportation) will have something and will have goodie bags,” McKinney said.
There will also be commercial and emergency response vehicles as well as those from Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
While the event is free, McKinney and Tripp are asking attendees to bring a non-perishable food item to help stock the food pantry at the sheriff’s office.
“I want the kids to be able to have fun and enjoy themselves,” he said, “and see there are options available. I want to see the smiles on kids’ faces and wanted to bring it here. We’ve got a great community here which gives back and helps each other out.”
Randy Wrenn, an organizer for the Team Mike scholarship drive, which is in memory of the late coach Mike Newsome, will have the Pepsi concession trailer on premises and will be selling drinks and hot dogs for that project
A part-time employee of rrspin, he will also have his personal truck, done up in rrspin sports wrap for the children and parents to see.
“I think it’s neat to let the kids climb on the vehicles,” Wrenn said. “Some little kids love having their pictures taken, blowing the horns and sirens. It’s an event to not only help the food pantry but to raise funds to honor the late Mike Newsome and help kids get scholarships.”
Last year Team Mike presented three scholarships to three seniors from three different schools.
“I’m very well pleased with the amount of interest,” Tripp said. “The food pantry is going well, it has been well received. We are receiving donations for which I’m grateful.”
The Touch-a-Truck event is one of several events over three days designed to bring the community together.
While they weren’t planned together, Tripp sees the Sunday Community Wellness Forum at the theater and National Night Out at HCC on Tuesday as positive events. “It’s three different activities which are proactive.”
Tripp said McKinney sold him on the idea for Touch-A-Truck. “Ross is a good guy. He came to me with this idea and we decided to go for it. The kids like to climb and explore. We’re always looking for events which gives us a chance to be up close and personal. Parents can take pictures and enjoy themselves.”
