MARCELLUS - More than 2,500 visitors attended Big Trucks 2009 on Sunday at Saunders Quarry.
Visitors of all ages strolled the quarry's floor and got a chance to sit in the cabins of 40 big trucks, including fire trucks, farm tractors, construction vehicles, ambulances and delivery trucks.
Big Trucks is an annual fundraiser that benefits the Skaneateles Nursery School and the Marcellus Parent Nursery School.
In its 17th year, the Big Trucks event continues to raise money for the nursery schools' music and art programs, field trips to apple orchards and Carpenters Brook Fish Hatchery, and need-based scholarships.
“It's a fun, affordable family activity that allows kids to see all kinds of trucks and machinery up close and personal,” said Sharon Azzam, Big Trucks coordinator and Skaneateles Nursery School parent. “It's something they normally would never be able to do.”
“It's amazing that so many companies donate so much,” said Azzam.
Byrne Dairy, the Marcellus Fire Department, the Skaneateles Fire Department and Saunders Quarry are a few of the companies that brought trucks to Sunday's event.
“We came up to help out and be a community presence,” said Jeff Berwald, a firefighter with the Marcellus Fire Department. “As you can see, the fundraiser is a real success.”
The attendance goal for Big Trucks 2009 was 3,000 visitors.
Azzam said there were probably 2,500 present at the event by about noon.
At $4 per ticket, the funds raised from the event could be around $10,000 if the event staff's estimate was near the mark.
Seventy-five volunteers, from parents of nursery school children to high school students from Skaneateles and Marcellus, helped out and streamlined the event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to the trucks, which children could climb into and sound the horns, there was food, ice cream, a magic show, face painting, a prize drawing and a pony to pet.
Large piles of gravel and sand were also part of the event, offering children the chance to get their hands dirty and get some exercise.
Suzanne Broschart attended Big Trucks with her sons, Kyle and Sean, 2, and Tyler, 5. “My boys love trucks,” she said. “It's hands-on - they can touch and see ... we can talk about what (the trucks) do.”
Tyler said he enjoys the event because he gets to climb on the trucks. It was the fourth time the family has come to Big Trucks.
Alison McCrone and her sons, Jeffrey, 4, and Ryan, 17 months, were also enjoying Sunday's event. McCrone's husband Ted volunteered at the event. Jeffrey goes to Skaneateles Nursery School.
“They (the boys) absolutely love the trucks. They're blown away by how big everything is and how many dirt piles there are,” said McCrone. “We'll be back next year for sure.”
Jeffrey said that he liked all of the trucks and got to honk some of the trucks' horns.
This was the first time the family attended the event.
Donna Arkerson, husband, John and sons, DJ, 2, and Casey, 1, came out explore the trucks, as well.
“All DJ wants to do is play with trucks,” said Arkerson. “It doesn't matter how many toys he has. He still wants to play with trucks.”
Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net.
Big Trucks is an annual fundraiser that benefits the Skaneateles Nursery School and the Marcellus Parent Nursery School.
In its 17th year, the Big Trucks event continues to raise money for the nursery schools' music and art programs, field trips to apple orchards and Carpenters Brook Fish Hatchery, and need-based scholarships.
“It's a fun, affordable family activity that allows kids to see all kinds of trucks and machinery up close and personal,” said Sharon Azzam, Big Trucks coordinator and Skaneateles Nursery School parent. “It's something they normally would never be able to do.”
“It's amazing that so many companies donate so much,” said Azzam.
Byrne Dairy, the Marcellus Fire Department, the Skaneateles Fire Department and Saunders Quarry are a few of the companies that brought trucks to Sunday's event.
“We came up to help out and be a community presence,” said Jeff Berwald, a firefighter with the Marcellus Fire Department. “As you can see, the fundraiser is a real success.”
The attendance goal for Big Trucks 2009 was 3,000 visitors.
Azzam said there were probably 2,500 present at the event by about noon.
At $4 per ticket, the funds raised from the event could be around $10,000 if the event staff's estimate was near the mark.
Seventy-five volunteers, from parents of nursery school children to high school students from Skaneateles and Marcellus, helped out and streamlined the event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to the trucks, which children could climb into and sound the horns, there was food, ice cream, a magic show, face painting, a prize drawing and a pony to pet.
Large piles of gravel and sand were also part of the event, offering children the chance to get their hands dirty and get some exercise.
Suzanne Broschart attended Big Trucks with her sons, Kyle and Sean, 2, and Tyler, 5. “My boys love trucks,” she said. “It's hands-on - they can touch and see ... we can talk about what (the trucks) do.”
Tyler said he enjoys the event because he gets to climb on the trucks. It was the fourth time the family has come to Big Trucks.
Alison McCrone and her sons, Jeffrey, 4, and Ryan, 17 months, were also enjoying Sunday's event. McCrone's husband Ted volunteered at the event. Jeffrey goes to Skaneateles Nursery School.
“They (the boys) absolutely love the trucks. They're blown away by how big everything is and how many dirt piles there are,” said McCrone. “We'll be back next year for sure.”
Jeffrey said that he liked all of the trucks and got to honk some of the trucks' horns.
This was the first time the family attended the event.
Donna Arkerson, husband, John and sons, DJ, 2, and Casey, 1, came out explore the trucks, as well.
“All DJ wants to do is play with trucks,” said Arkerson. “It doesn't matter how many toys he has. He still wants to play with trucks.”
Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 2 comment(s)
teacher1 wrote on Oct 5, 2009 7:40 AM:
northender wrote on Oct 5, 2009 5:01 AM: